A TEAL-GREEN CARVED GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE
Imperial, attributed to the Palace Workshops, Beijing，1750-1795
Of flattened, rounded form with shoulders sloping to a tall cylindrical neck with a wide mouth, and with a neatly carved inset oval foot, of a vivid teal-green color over a sandwiched milky greenish-white color, each main side carved with a coiling dragon flying in the sky above frothy waves, one with a spray of lingzhi in its mouth, the two narrow sides carved with scrolling clouds; stopper.
2 3/8in (6cm) high
Footnotes:
1750-1795 藍綠夾料刻海水龍紋鼻煙壺一件
御製 或為北京宮廷作坊製

Provenance:
Arts of China, May 1986
Joan and Ted Dorf Collection, no. 6

The design of this bottle, together with the unusual color and quality of the glass all point to a Palace Workshops provenance. The color of teal-green with a hint of blue over a milky greenish-white color fades from opaque to transparent from the top to the bottom of the bottle. Technically this glass-making process can be described as the 'sandwich' technique where the milky color is encased beneath a clear layer at the neck. It has a small concave base surrounded by frothy carved waves yet stands freely; another sign of its high quality of manufacture.

Excellent condition, elegant shape, fine color and carving.