A RUBY-RED OVERLAY ON 'SNOWFLAKE' GLASS SNUFF BOTTLEImperial, attributed to the Palace Workshops, Beijing, 1750-1800 Of ruby-red on a snowflake ground, of small rounded form, with shoulders sloping to a cylindrical neck with a wide mouth and a neatly carved oval footrim, carved on each main side with a flowering peony issuing from rockwork, surrounded by a border of leafy branches; stopper. 2 1/8in (5.4cm) high 1750-1800 霏雪地套紅料刻富貴牡丹鼻煙壺一件 御製 或為北京宮廷作坊製 Provenance: Weschler's Auctioneers, March 5, 1982 Joan and Ted Dorf Collection, no. 138 In Chinese culture the peony was a symbol of wealth, good fortune, power and class. It is known as the 'King of Flowers', although in the Tang dynasty peonies were seen as symbols of female beauty and love. By the Song dynasty tree peonies had be a favorite muse of the artists.