A SMALL PLAIN AMBER SNUFF BOTTLE
Transparent amber of even golden-brown color, with a few smaller inclusions here and there, and smooth surface polish. China, 1750-1850

Amber bottles of this sober yet striking color sometimes were made with no decoration at all in order to focus the eye of the observer on the beauty of the material itself.

Shape: Bulbous round form
Hollowing: Excellent, the inner and outer contours perfectly matching
Mouth, neck and lip: Short cylindric neck with flat top and large mouth
Base: Oval, with stepped and raised foot rim
Stopper: Jade with streaks of emerald green, good old spoon
Height of the bottle with stopper: 5.8 cm
Width of the mouth: 14 mm
Width of the neck: 7 mm
Condition: Excellent, with one microscopic fault to inner lip (not visible unless stopper is removed)
Provenance: Austrian private collection

Literature comparison: Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. Sotheby's, September 17th SEP 2013, NEW YORK, lot 181. CHINESE ART FROM THE SCHOLAR'S STUDIO. Bonham's, September 15th 2014, New York, lot 8005. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART. Bonham's, May 26th 2014, Hong Kong, lot 46. (all for plain amber bottles of similar color, but different shapes).

Expertise: Alexander Zacke

琥珀色料小鼻煙壺

平整金棕色透明琥珀, 局部帶些不同色紋, 優雅磨光

中國, 1750–1850 年

如此用琥珀雕成的鼻煙壺有時完全單色, 不帶所有裝飾, 以史觀察者的眼睛集中於石料元素美麗上.

形狀：圓球形

掏膛：完整, 隨壺身形狀成形

瓶口、頸、瓶唇： 短圓柱形頸, 平頭, 大口

底足：橢圓形, 凸出足邊成階形

蓋: 帶翠綠行玉, 古雅牙雕勺

高（帶蓋）：5.8厘米

口徑：1.4厘米

頸部直徑：7厘米

狀態敘述：品相良好，唇內部帶一細小的不成點 (提蓋才看得到)

來源：奧地利私人舊藏

文獻: Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. Sotheby’s, 2013 年9月17日, NEW YORK, 編號181. CHINESE ART FROM THE SCHOLAR'S STUDIO. Bonham’s, 2014年9月15日, New York, 編號 8005. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART. Bonham’s, 2014 年5月26日, Hong Kong, 編號46.