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

拍品描述

A CHINESE PALE GREEN JADE DOUBLE GOURD SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY (1644-1911) Of elegant double-gourd form, this pale green jade snuff bottle is carved with two rounded bulbous sections divided by a narrow waist, rising to a short cylindrical neck. The stone is softly translucent, with a muted celadon-green tone and natural cloudy inclusions visible within the polished surface. Its smooth, undecorated body places emphasis on the material itself and the balanced silhouette of the gourd form. The bottle is accompanied by a blue hardstone stopper with spoon, providing a vivid contrast to the restrained pale jade body. The simple modelling and rounded contours suggest an object intended not only for use but also for the tactile pleasure of handling, a quality especially valued in jade snuff bottles. The double gourd, or hulu, is an auspicious form in Chinese art, associated with abundance, longevity and protection. In the context of a snuff bottle, its compact scale transforms this symbolic shape into a personal object of refinement, suitable for the scholar’s table or the Qing courtly world of portable luxury. Snuff bottles became important accessories during the Qing dynasty, when powdered tobacco was carried in small, carefully made containers. Jade examples were particularly admired for their durability, coolness to the touch and association with purity and cultivated taste. A restrained and pleasing example, this bottle combines the auspicious double-gourd form with the quiet elegance of pale green jade. Height: 6.5cm

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