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PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION
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AN EMERALD AND APPLE-GREEN JADEITE BOTTLE The same authors, ibid., pp.440-441, no. 172 and pp. 454-455, no.
1750-1850 179, illustrate some similar shaped bottles each with darker emerald
Of globular spade shape, the semi transparent stone with darker flecks and discuss the subjective aspect of interpreting the random
emerald-green inclusions to the upper half primarily on one side, markings within the stone. Interestingly, the cutting of an oval foot rim,
with the color a more apple-green and white in the lower half, well- rather than the usual flat or lightly hollowed foot, and the subtle low-
carved low-relief lion-head fixed-ring handles on the narrow sides, the relief carving of the handles, seems to raise our bottle, metaphorically
shallow oval foot very neatly cut, a relatively wide mouth opening and and literally, above the normal level achieved.
exceedingly well hollowed, with an overall attractive polish.
2in (5.1cm) high, stopper Another jadeite bottle, of flattened spade shape, but also carved with
low-relief handles and an oval foot rim, is illustrated in Chinese Snuff
$10,000 - 15,000 Bottles in the Collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1991,
p. 190, no. 228.
1750-1850年 翠玉舖首鼻煙壺
Another of similar profile is illustrated by Michael C. Hughes, Small
See Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Treasures: The Art Institute of Chicago, Chinese Snuff Bottles, Hong
Chinese Snuff Bottles, The Mary and George Bloch Collection, Vol. 1, Kong, 2015, pp. 70-71, no. 50.
Jade, pp. 458-459, no.181, where the authors discuss the rarity of the
finest jadeite in snuff bottle production. Due to the amount of wastage
during the interior drilling process, the best stones were generally
saved for producing jewelry and rarely used for objects bigger than
beads or rings.

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