China. The flattened globular body supported on a flat base and rising to a short cylindrical neck with flat lip, the wood body covered in a fine granular surface of shagreen, neatly polished. A naturally grown, fine patina overall.

Provenance: Gurie Gallery, Montreal, prior to 1970. Collection of Christopher and Genevieve McConnell, acquired from the above. Gurie Gallery, established by the esteemed Gurevich family, traces its origins to Harbin in northeastern China during the first half of the 20th century. Relocating to Canada in the 1950s, the family transplanted its passion for art and design to Montreal, where Gurie Gallery blossomed into a venerable institution within the art and design community. Distinguished as one of the pioneering galleries for Chinese art in Canada, Gurie Gallery garnered acclaim for its dedicated focus on Chinese ceramics, decorative arts, and paintings. Its resonance extended beyond Montreal, capturing the attention of collectors in prominent art hubs such as Toronto and New York. In the 1960s, Alex Gurevich (1929-1990), the son of the founders, assumed leadership of the gallery. Under his stewardship, Gurie Gallery thrived, maintaining its commitment to excellence. Alex diligently sourced exceptional objects, making frequent visits to Hong Kong to curate a collection that reflected the gallery's unwavering dedication to artistic quality and cultural significance. Christopher McConell, a Montreal born engineer and his wife Genevieve, a French doctor of osteopathy and research artist, are both avid collectors of African, Indian, and Chinese art.
Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear, manufacturing irregularities, and traces of use.

Stopper: Glass with lacquer collar
Weight: 19.6 g
Dimensions: Height including stopper 58.5 mm. Diameter neck 15 mm and mouth 5 mm.

In the 17th and early 18th centuries, the term 'shagreen' began to be applied to leather made from sharkskin and rayskin. It was previously a term used for the rough leather made from wild horses. It was highly popular in Europe, even being using by master leatherworkers in the court of Louis XV of France, leading to it quickly becoming a fashion amongst the aristocracy. By the 19th century, its popularity had spread to Central Asia, although reports suggest of its use in China as early as the 16th century. Shagreen was used for decoration in the Qing Court both for martial purposes such as sword hilts, as well as for daily use as exemplified by an Imperial spectacles case from the Yongzheng period.

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related shagreen snuff bottle of flattened rectangular form, illustrated by Bob Stevens, The Collector's Book of Snuff Bottles, New York and Tokyo, p. 197, pl. 720.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams London, 15 May 2014, lot 464
Price: GBP 6,250 or approx. EUR 11,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare shagreen-veneered snuff bottle, 18th/19th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and decoration with a similar granular surface of shagreen. Note the size (4.9 cm).