AN EMERALD GREEN JADEITE 'DRAGON' SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY
Lustrous semi-translucent jadeite of emerald green color with areas of silvery white, smooth 'oily' finish. China, 19th century

Centered depiction of a fierce four-clawed dragon amidst clouds, the shed skin of the legendary creature neatly incised, verso a carp above wavy ground and a cottage in the far distance, all carved in high relief. While plain bottles of this material can be found from time to time, carved examples are unusual, and the carving style in comparable cases suggest a nineteenth century dating.

Shape: Ovoid bulbous form
Hollowing: Excellent
Mouth, neck and lip: Cylindric neck with a nuance of sprawling, flat top, extremely small mouth with deep inner cylinder - the hollowing must have been a serious challenge!
Base: Flat oval
Stopper: Matching stopper with reticulated tendril design carved of mottled apple green jadeite, on an onyx platelet, with a nice old spoon
Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.1 cm
Width of the mouth: 5 mm
Width of the neck: 20 mm
Condition: Perfect
Provenance: American Private Collection

Literature comparison: SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE MARY AND GEORGE BLOCH COLLECTION: PART X. Sotheby's, June 1st JUNE 2015, HONG KONG, lot 192. Bob C. Stevens, The Collector's Book of Snuff Bottles, New York and Tokyo, 1976, no. 455. Robert Kleiner, Precious Playthings: Important Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Mack Collection, London, 2000, cat. no. 21 and front cover. (all for jadeite snuff bottles from the same family with the rare dragon design).

Expertise: Alexander Zacke

翡翠雲龍鼻煙壺, 清代

半透明翡翠帶銀白紋, 平整油潤磨光

中國, 19世紀

四爪龍飛翔于雲間, 細節頗為講究, 背面有鯉魚在波浪中與草堂紋. 這種材料雕類似景觀頗為罕見, 大約為19世紀製造.

形狀：卵球形

掏膛：完善

瓶口、頸、瓶唇： 圓柱頸微妙開展, 平頭, 甚小口, 深內部圓柱, 的確難以成就.

底足：平橢圓形

蓋: 蓋相配, 翡翠雕藤蔓紋在縞瑪瑙片上, 古雅牙雕勺

高（帶蓋）：7.1厘米

口徑：0.5厘米

頸部直徑：2.0厘米

狀態敘述：完善

來源：美國私人舊藏

文獻: SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE MARY AND GEORGE BLOCH COLLECTION: PART X. Sotheby’s, June 2015 年6月1 日, HONG KONG, 編號192. Bob C. Stevens, 《中國鼻煙壺收藏指南》, New York and Tokyo, 1976, 編號 455. Robert Kleiner, Precious Playthings: Important Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Mack Collection, London, 2000, 編號21 與封面.