A YELLOW JADE SNUFF BOTTLE
1750-1800
Of flattened, squared form with rounded shoulders sloping to a cylindrical neck, and with an indented oval foot, the nephrite very well-hollowed, and of a vivid greenish-yellow tone; stopper.
2 1/8in (5.4cm) high
Footnotes:
1750-1800 黃玉素面鼻煙壺一件

Provenance:
Robert Hall, October 2000
Joan and Ted Dorf Collection, no. 313

Nephrite that is truly yellow in color is rare. To hollow out a bottle until it is translucent as this one is, would tend to leave the stone weak in color and perhaps uneven. Yet the strength of this color is evident despite the thinness of its walls. There is no reason to adorn this bottle in any way; the carver is aware that he has created a masterpiece by using a superb piece of stone and hollowing it out until its translucency becomes an inherent part of its appeal.