A CELADON AND RUSSET 'DRAGON AMIDST CLOUDS' JADE SNUFF BOTTLE

Nephrite of dark-brown and celadon color, carved in high relief, with masterfully incised detail work. China, 1740-1840

The pebble-form bottle is carved throughout the deep brown colored areas with swirling clouds parting to reveal a sinuous four-clawed dragon carved in the celadon area. The dramatic scene is enhanced by the clever use of intense brown to depict a thunderstorm, with its typical dark condensed clouds, only dominated by a dauntless dragon. The symbolism in this bottle is straightforward and can be read as "may you master the future, regardless what comes".

Shape: Pebble
Hollowing: Excellent
Mouth, neck and lip: The mouth is quite small and succinct to the depiction
Base: None, bottle does not stand
Design, marks, school: Master of the Rocks School
Stopper: Aventurine glass with a minuscule red knob on top, black platelet
Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.2 cm.
Width of the mouth: 5 mm.
Condition: Excellent
Provenance: American private collection

Literature comparison: The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part III. Christies, New York, September 14th, 2016, lot 438. (for a very similar bottle) The Au Hang Collection of Snuff Bottles, Jihu Jingshe, Hong Kong, 1992, lot 125. (for another interesting version of this subject, also executed in jade) For a comprehensive overview of the Master of the Rocks School, see Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, Hong Kong, 1995, Vol. 1, Jade, nos. 133-43.

清代青玉帶皮"雲龍"鼻烟壺
品相極好
美國私人收藏