A carved duan stone snuff bottle


Likely Imperial, 18th/early 19th centuryOf flattened globular form, with a slightly waisted neck, recessed lip and oval foot ring, one broad side expertly carved in relief with two dynamic, scaly dragons, reversed by a circular reserve enclosing crisply carved characters reading Duan xi zhen wan (the treasured plaything from Duan creek), all flanked by mock lion mask-and-ring handles on the narrow sides, the lions with the distinctive 'official's hats'.2 3/8in (6cm) high
|十八世紀/十九世紀早期 端石雕龍紋「端溪珍玩」鼻煙壺Provenance:Dr. Dean EdellGerd Lester Collection, CaliforniaPublishedChristopher Randall, The Wildness Collection, Chinese Snuff Bottles form the Dr. Edell Collection, 2018, no. 42ExhibitedInternational Chinese Snuff Bottle Society, 2006