A CHINESE PALE GREEN JADE SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY (1644-1911)

拍品描述

A CHINESE PALE GREEN JADE SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY (1644-1911) Of compact rounded form, this pale green jade snuff bottle is carved with softly swelling shoulders, a short cylindrical neck and a neatly finished oval foot. The body is deliberately restrained, relying on the quiet beauty of the stone rather than carved ornament, with the pale green tone showing gentle cloudy inclusions and subtle variations within the polished surface. The bottle is accompanied by a stopper with a warm orange-red cabochon top and metal collar, together with its spoon. The contrast between the cool, softly translucent jade and the warmer colour of the stopper lends the object a refined visual balance, while also reflecting the Qing taste for combining different precious materials within a single intimate object. Snuff bottles occupied an important place in Qing-dynasty material culture, functioning both as practical containers for powdered tobacco and as highly personal objects of taste, status and connoisseurship. Jade examples were especially prized for their pleasing weight in the hand, their association with purity and refinement, and the skill required to hollow and polish the stone at such a small scale. The simplicity of this example is central to its appeal. Its rounded profile, smooth surface and softly luminous stone give the bottle a quiet elegance, while the fitted stopper adds a note of colour and completeness. As a small object intended for handling and close inspection, it reflects the refined sensibility of Qing snuff-bottle production. Height: 5.5cm

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