A CARVED DUANSTONE SNUFF BOTTLE
Possibly imperial, 1750-1800
Of flattened, rounded form with a long cylindrical neck, and with a neatly carved oval foot, the well- hollowed purplish-brown stone carved in low relief with, on one main side, a coiling scaly dragon flying through clouds, looking down at a second dragon rising from the waves, the reverse inscribed Duanxi you liangcai wenrun bi meiyu' (the River Duan has fine material as beautiful as jade) and a yuzhi mark (by imperial command), the two narrow sides with mock mask-and-ring handles; stopper.
2 1/8in (5.5cm) high
Footnotes:
1750-1800 端石刻雲龍銘文及舖首啣環鼻煙壺一件
或爲御製

Provenance:
Eric Young Collection
Sotheby's London, October 13, 1987, lot 71
Joan and Ted Dorf Collection, no. 55

This is a classic example of an inkstone bottle with its inscription and yuzhi mark on one main side and two well carved dragons on the other main face. The stone itself comes from Zhaoqing (formerly Duanzhou) in Guangdong province, quarried from the River Duan. The stone was traditionally used for grinding ink because 'its weight is light, soft like children's skin, tender but not slippery.'

Minor frits to one ring handle. Nice surface patina and clear, elegant carving to both faces.