A RED OVERLAY ON 'SNOWFLAKE' GLASS SNUFF BOTTLEImperial, attributed to the Palace Workshops, Beijing, 1750-1800 Of ruby-red on an opalescent snowflake ground, of flattened, rounded form, carved on one main side with the rooftop of the heavenly pavilion rising from frothy waves, a crane with a rod in its beak in flight above, the reverse with Shoulao and a deer standing on floating clouds beneath wisps of clouds in the sky, the narrow sides with rising vapor, the neck with a slightly everted red overlay collar; stopper. 2 1/4in (5.7cm) high 1750-1800 霏雪地套紅料刻瓊閣壽老鼻煙壺一件 御製 或為北京宮廷作坊製 Provenance: Jade House, May 1986 Joan and Ted Dorf Collection, no. 8 Literature: JICSBS , Autumn 2018, front cover The highly artistic and fluid style of carving of this bottle is seldom seen, even on bottles with an imperial attribution, giving the bottle an elegant and ethereal appearance. It is as though the carver had a brush in his hands, rather than a standard lapidary tool with the result that the bottle is a unique and enduring work of art.