A FACETED WHITE JADE SNUFF BOTTLE
Imperial, attributed to the Palace Workshops, Beijing, 1736-1795
Of octagonal, faceted form with a cylindrical neck, each main side with raised quatrefoil faceted panels, the even white nephrite very well-hollowed; stopper.
1 1/2in (4.1cm) high
Footnotes:
1736-1795 白玉刻棱鼻煙壺一件
御製 或為北京宮廷作坊製

Provenance:
Acquired in New York, August 1984
Joan and Ted Dorf Collection, no. 176

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

Faceting appears to be a shape which developed in the eighteenth century in the imperial court as a decorative feature copied from Western tradition and derived directly from European tributes presented to the court. Whilst most faceted bottles were made in glass, examples were also produced in jade and agate, albeit rarely. Faceting in the West was, and is used, to show brilliance in glass, gems and crystal whereas the same effect was not sought after in the East because of the different inherent value placed on stones, and especially on jade.