A GREY JADE SNUFF BOTTLE AND A WHITE JADE 'QUAIL AND MILLET' SNUFF BOTTLE
18th/19th century
The grey snuff bottle raised on a foot rim, of rectangular shape with sloping shoulders, surmounted by a cylindrical neck, the stone of pale grey and black hue, jade and tourmaline stopper, 5.6cm (2 1/4in) high; the second of rectangular scalloped form with a cylindrical neck and a foot rim, carved in low relief on one side depicting a quail underneath a stalk of millet, the reverse with a cluster of flowering narcissus issuing from a jagged rockwork, the stone of even white tone, jade stopper, 5.2cm (2in) high. (4).
Footnotes:
十八/十九世紀 灰玉素面鼻煙壺 及白玉倭角「岁岁平安」圖鼻煙壺 一組兩件

The combination of quail (鵪鶉) and millet (麥穗) in the white jade snuff bottle creates the rebus sui sui ping an (岁岁平安), symbolising the good wish for 'everlasting peace year after year'. Compare with a related scalloped white jade snuff bottle, 1750-1820, which was sold at Bonhams New York, 19 September 2022, lot 12.

Compare the grey jade snuff bottle with a similar white and grey jade snuff bottle, 1740-1790, which was sold at Bonhams London, 10 July 2006, lot 329.

The white jade bottle with tiny nicks tot he extremities; the grey jade snuff bottle with tiny nicks around the mouth rim and foot rim.