A RED OVERLAY ON 'SNOWFLAKE' GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE
Imperial, attributed to the Palace Workshops, Beijing, 1750-1800
Of ruby-red on an opalescent snowflake ground, of flattened, rounded form, carved on one main side with the rooftop of the heavenly pavilion rising from frothy waves, a crane with a rod in its beak in flight above, the reverse with Shoulao and a deer standing on floating clouds beneath wisps of clouds in the sky, the narrow sides with rising vapor, the neck with a slightly everted red overlay collar; stopper.
2 1/4in (5.7cm) high
Footnotes:
1750-1800 霏雪地套紅料刻瓊閣壽老鼻煙壺一件
御製 或為北京宮廷作坊製

Provenance:
Jade House, May 1986
Joan and Ted Dorf Collection, no. 8

Literature:
JICSBS, Autumn 2018, front cover

The highly artistic and fluid style of carving of this bottle is seldom seen, even on bottles with an imperial attribution, giving the bottle an elegant and ethereal appearance. It is as though the carver had a brush in his hands, rather than a standard lapidary tool with the result that the bottle is a unique and enduring work of art.

A very elegant and refined bottle in fine condition commensurate with its auspicious subject matter.