Lot 1128
Treasury 1, no. 79 (‘The palace Snuff-Pot’)
HK$18,750

Nephrite; well hollowed, with a concave circular foot
Probably imperial; attributable to the palace workshops, Beijing, 1730–1800
Height: 3.99 cm
Mouth/lip: 0.49/1.54 cm
Stopper: carnelian with integral finial and collar

Provenance:
Robert Kleiner (1993)

Published:
Treasury 1, no. 79

Although this is a miniature (see Sale 6, lot 141), it probably owes its size more to the Yongzheng and Qianlong predilection for small bottles than to any virtuoso effort at miniaturization.

The attribution to the palace here is based upon certain features that appear to
be standard for palace production of nephrite during the eighteenth century. It is of small size, unusual form based loosely upon a meiping (‘prunus-blossom vase’), and has the common palace hollowing which leaves a substantial foot (the external measurement here is 3.99 cm, the depth of the hollowing, 3.4 cm, leaving a foot depth of 0.59 cm, which is a significant depth of foot for so tiny a bottle). Also, the unassuming material of little intrinsic value is characteristic of a substantial number of bottles attributable to the Qianlong palace workshops.

An intriguing feature of this bottle is the tiny mouth. It is likely that the tiny mouth became fashionable at court during the Qianlong period, even though it seems to have been popular at Suzhou, for example, somewhat earlier (one of the Suzhou bottles signed by Zhiting has a tiny mouth—see Sale 3, lot 101).

The stopper here is also of palace style, with its official-hat shape, integral collar, and finial resembling a hat knob. Because it is in a different material, we cannot judge if it is the original, but it would certainly be a possible original style and material for a palace bottle. It suits this particular bottle ideally.

This is not the Sotheby’s sale catalogue. This is a product of Hugh Moss for the purposes of this website. For the catalogue details please refer to Sotheby’s website or request a copy of a printed sale catalogue from Sotheby’s.