The Meriem Collection Part II. Lot 249

249
**A WELL-CARVED BLUE OVERLAY BUBBLE-SUFFUSED COLORLESS GLASS SNUFF
BOTTLE
IMPERIAL, PALACE WORKSHOPS, BEIJING, 1710-1760
Of compressed form with wide mouth, thin, flat lip and recessed foot surrounded by a footrim, carved through the transparent blue layer with a continuous design of two chi dragons with coiled, sinuous bodies, the tail of one dragon forming the oval foot, tourmaline stopper with vinyl collar
4.8 cm. high
$4,000-6,000

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

E X H I B I T E D :
Canadian Craft Museum, Vancouver, 1992.

The especially wide mouth, fine hollowing and execution of its Imperial chi dragons suggest an early date for this bottle. The dragons here are not formulaic repetitions of a standard design, but are fluid and dynamic. The carving is well-rounded and perfectly finished, set against an even ground plane.

The Meriem Collection Part II. Lot 249