The Meriem Collection Part II. Lot 233

233
**A VERY RARE WHITE GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE
IMPERIAL, PALACE WORKSHOPS, BEIJING, QIANLONG FOUR-CHARACTER MARK AND OF THE PERIOD, 1736-1799
With flat lip and recessed flat foot surrounded by a footrim, the translucent white glass of even tone, the foot inscribed with a four-character mark in regular script, Qianlong yuzhi (Made by Imperial command of the Qianlong emperor), jadeite stopper with gilt-metal collar
6.8 cm. high
$18,000-25,000

P R O V E N A N C E :
Hugh Moss Ltd.

E X H I B I T E D :
Hong Kong Museum of Art, “Snuff Bottles of the Ch’ing Dynasty”, 20 October-3 December 1978.

L I T E R A T U R E :
JICSBS, December 1975, p. 11, nos. 43-44.
Hong Kong Museum of Art, Snuff Bottles of the Ch’ing Dynasty, 1978, p. 72, no. 76.

This bottle is from a group of Imperial glass snuff bottles bearing Qianlong yuzhi marks. See Moss, Graham and Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, Vol. 5, Glass, nos. 776, 866 and 955. The use of a kaishu (regular script) mark, as on no. 866 referenced, suggests that this bottle was made in the second half of the Qianlong reign, as marks in seal script were more common during the earlier part of the period.

Similar white glass bottles, products of the Imperial glassworks, were also enameled at the Palace. See two enameled glass snuff bottles of similar form still in the Imperial Collection in Snuff Bottles. The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, pp. 4-5, nos. 4 and 5; and Moss, Graham and Tsang, The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle. The J & J Collection, no. 193, for an enameled white glass snuff bottle of similar profile, but with fluted sides.

The Meriem Collection Part II. Lot 233