A WHITE JADE 'TIED BOW' SNUFF BOTTLE
Imperial, attributed to the Palace Workshops，1750-1800
Of flattened, ovoid form with rounded shoulders and a cylindrical neck, and with a neatly carved oval footrim, the flawless white stone very well-hollowed, carved in low relief with a continuous design of a brocade sash draped around the bottle and tied in a bow on one main side, the sash with a leiwen border and a geometric six-petaled flower-head design; stopper.
2 3/8in (6cm) high
Footnotes:
1750-1800 白玉刻包袱紋鼻煙壺一件
御製 或為宮廷作坊製

Provenance:
Sotheby's New York, November 22, 1988, lot 308
Joan and Ted Dorf Collection, no. 75

Objects wrapped in cloth and tied with a sash were often given as gifts or birthday presents. This method of wrapping symbolizes a wish for great longevity. The sash (shoudai) represents longevity while the knot (jie) symbolizes infinity. Denis Low points out a further meaning in More Treasures from the Sanctum of Enlightened Respect that the cloth used for this type of wrapping (fu) is a rebus for good fortune or happiness, while tied (xi) brocade symbolizes the hope for joy.

Excellent condition, even color and finely carved.