A RUBY-RED CARVED GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE
Imperial, attributed to the Palace Workshops, Beijing, 1736 - 1795
Of meiping form with shoulders sloping to a tall cylindrical, slightly flared neck with a wide mouth, and with a neatly carved circular footrim, of a vivid ruby-red color, continuously carved with a phoenix with outstretched wings among scrolling clouds and the sun, perched on one leg on a rock, bordered by further scrolling clouds, and a coiling scaly dragon rising into the sky from frothy waves; stopper.
2 3/8in (6cm) high
Footnotes:
1736-1795 寶石紅料刻龍鳳鼻煙壺一件
御製 或為北京宮廷作坊製

Provenance:
Jade House, February 1994
Joan and Ted Dorf Collection, no. 222

The Palace Workshops had evolved to a level of supreme artistry by the middle of the Qianlong period, and the output of the glass workshop illustrates this well. This vibrant ruby-red glass bottle with its powerfully fluid relief carving is a masterpiece of artistic expression. Despite its form which lends itself to a continuous scene the bottle appears to be divided in two with a phoenix on one side and a dragon on the opposing side framed by rockwork and scrolling clouds.

The neck interior is possibly slightly polished. This is a stunning bottle with superb carving, elegant shape and color.