Chinese Works of ArtA CARVED ‘QIAO SISTERS’ AQUAMARINE SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTYThe transparent stone of even aquamarine color, carved and incised in relief, good surface finishChina, 1800-1890The bottle carved in low relief with a scene of ‘The Two Qiao Sisters’, one riding on a horse and carrying a large banner, the other walking besides, all below a band of clouds. The scene continues to the reverse with a deer resting below a gnarly pine tree.While the finest gemstones of aquamarine are of flawless blue color, pieces large enough to be fashioned into a snuff bottle are never flawless. As seen here, the material is permeated with natural flaws, which refract the light and add a complementary shimmering effect to the material. Shape: Flattened spade shapeHollowing: Good, symmetrical to the outside shapeMouth, neck and lip: Short cylindric neck with very small mouth, typical for the master of the rocksBase: Rectangular base with rounded edges and raised foot rimDesign, marks, school: Master of the rocks schoolStopper: Good tourmaline stopper on a black platelet, fine old spoonHeight of the bottle with stopper: 7 cm.Width of the mouth: 5 mm.Width of the neck: 19 mm.Weight: 75,3 gramsCondition: Excellent condition with few microscopic nibbling to foot rimProvenance: American private collectionLiterature comparison: For a discussion of the Qiao Sisters, see Ma Zengshan, Inside-Painted Snuff Bottle Artist Ma Shaoxuan (1867-1939), Maryland, 1997, pp. 32-35.Auction result comparison: The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part V. Christies, New York, 13 September 2017, lot 272. (for an aquamarine bottle with a similar subject)清代海藍寶石雕”大小二喬”鼻烟壺晶瑩剔透的海藍寶石，均勻色澤，細膩高浮雕，表面光滑，良好磨光中國，1800-1890年品相極佳美國私人收藏