A RUBY-RED OVERLAY ON OPALESCENT GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE
Imperial, attributed to the Palace Workshops, Beijing，1730-1795
Of ruby-red on an opalescent snowflake ground, of rounded form, with shoulders sloping to a cylindrical neck with a wide mouth and a neatly carved oval footrim, carved on each main side with a circle formed by a pair of interlocking stylized, confronting dragons grasping a 'flaming pearl', the narrow sides overlaid with oval panels; stopper.
2in (5.3cm) high
Footnotes:
1730-1795 半透明白套紅料刻雙龍戲珠鼻煙壺一件
御製 或為北京宮廷作坊製

Provenance:
Sotheby's, London, June 6, 1988, A Private Collection, lot 28
Joan and Ted Dorf Collection, no. 11

Exhibited:
The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, MD., September 30 – December 9, 2018

Whilst confronting dragons are relatively common on bottles of varying materials produced in the Palace Workshops, they are usually more formal in their portrayal. Although the dragons depicted on this rare and unique bottle are stylized with their bodies of interlocking scrolls, a vivacity is retained in the design.

Generally in very good condition. Excellent overlay carving. Some surface air bubbles and some inclusions within the matrix of the semi-translucent milky glass. Minor mouth rim nibble but unobtrusive.