Bottle ID: 126

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TAPERING CYLINDRICAL FORM

Date: 1750-1820

Height: 64 mm

Nephrite, well hollowed, the off-white calcified stone of tapering cylindrical form, with rounded shoulders sloping to a waisted neck and everted straightened lip, the base slightly concave, carved in low relief with a concentric horizontal band around the middle of the bottle of stylized taotie masks between two borders.

Possibly Imperial, attributed to the Palace Workshops, Beijing.

 

Similar Examples:

Crane Collection nos. 319, 440 and 744
Low, Denis S. K. Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Sanctum of Enlightened Respect III, 2007, p. 85, no. 66.
Hall, Robert. Chinese Snuff Bottles: Masterpieces from the Rietberg Museum Zurich, 1993, pp. 64-65, no. 26.
Sotheby's, New York, April 1, 2005, lot 392, Collection of Avrina Pugh.

Provenance:

Clare Lawrence Ltd.

Whilst the majority of calcified jade bottles are left uncarved on their main surfaces, this example has been produced in a classic 'palace' style with archaic taotie bands as the motif usually seen on white or yellow jade. It is a slightly heavy bottle with the weight towards the base, presumably for balance and with fairly thick walls. Since the form does not lend itself to translucency and since the material is opaque this does not matter, especially as the result is that the bottle with its creamy soft patination feels wonderful in the hand.

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