A CARVED CELADON AND RUSSET JADE SNUFF BOTTLE, MASTER OF THE ROCKS SCHOOL, 1740-1850 Published:
Bob C. Stevens, The Collector's Book of Snuff Bottles, New York, 1976, pp. 118-119, no. 407.
Sotheby's Fine and Important Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Collection of Bob C. Stevens, Part III, New York, 1982, no. 156.

China. Of rounded rectangular form, finely carved through the russet-brown skin on one side with a scene of pine, lingzhi, rocks and a brick wall, the reverse with a pavilion encircled by swirling clouds which rise from the waves extending around the base. Superb manual polish with an unctuous feel overall.

Provenance: From the collection of Bob C. Stevens, California. Sotheby's New York, 25 June 1982, lot 156. Rachelle R. Holden, New York, acquired from the above. A collector's label from Rachelle Holden with inventory number '78' to the base. Bob C. Stevens was an enthusiastic collector of Chinese snuff bottles who published an important book on the subject, The Collector's Book of Snuff Bottles, in 1976. In 1978, a part of his collection was exhibited in Tokyo at Mikimoto Hall. Rachelle R. Holden (1934-2020) was a famous collector of Chinese snuff bottles. She purchased her first bottle in 1974, finding the subject fascinating as it combined all the classic forms of Chinese art, and would continue to passionately collect them for the rest of her life.
Condition: Very good condition with minor old wear, a minuscule chip to the rim.

Stopper: Jadeite stopper
Weight: 70.6 g
Dimensions: Height including stopper 66 mm. Diameter neck 16 mm and mouth 5 mm.

The Master of the Rocks School seems to have specialized in carvings from two-colored hardstones, such as agate, crystal, chalcedony and jade. The school's main output was bottles carved with landscape designs, but many other subjects are recorded, which may have been partly produced for the Imperial Court. The quality of carving and the use of material in the present bottle are typical of this school.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 23 March 2012, lot 1563
Price: USD 30,000 or approx. EUR 36,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A well-carved greenish-yellow and brown jade snuff bottle, Master of the Rocks School, 1740-1850
Expert remark: Compare the closely related carving style, carving and incising of the russet skin while leaving the celadon areas plain.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 21 March 2002, lot 258
Price: USD 22,325 or approx. EUR 34,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rare and fine carved yellowish-green and russet jade bottle, Master of the Rocks School, 1740-1850
Expert remark: Compare the closely related carving style, carving and incising of the russet skin while leaving the celadon areas plain.



1740-1850年青玉留皮雕鼻烟壺
中國。扁平長方削肩，一面棕褐色留皮精雕細刻松樹、靈芝和假山，另一面有一個亭台樓閣，周圍祥雲環繞。精湛的工藝，整體瑩潤。

出版：Bob C. Stevens，The Collector's Book of Snuff Bottles（《鼻烟壺收藏手冊》），紐約，1976年，頁118-119，編號407。
蘇富比Fine and Important Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Collection of Bob C. Stevens，Part III，紐約，1982年，編號156。

來源：Bob C. Stevens舊藏，加利福尼亞；紐約蘇富比1982年6月25日 lot 156；紐約Rachelle R. Holden 舊藏，購於上述拍賣。底部可見Rachelle Holden 收藏標籤“78“。Bob C. Stevens 曾是一位中國鼻烟壺知名收藏家，曾出版過一本書The Collector's Book of Snuff Bottles（《鼻烟壺收藏手冊》），1976年以及1978年。書裏曾記錄過這件拍品。他的藏品的一部分曾在東京Mikimoto Hall（御本廳）展出過。Rachelle R. Holden（1934-2020年）是著名的中國鼻烟壺收藏家。 她於 1974 年購買了她的第一個鼻烟壺，從而發現了鼻烟壺其迷人之處，因為它結合了中國藝術的所有經典形式。之後，她持續不斷地收集鼻烟壺。
品相：品相極好，有輕微磨損，邊緣有微小的磕損。

壺蓋：翡翠
重量：70.6 克
尺寸：高 （含蓋）66 毫米，頸部直徑16 毫米及壺口直徑5 毫米

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2012年3月23日，lot 1563
價格：USD 30,000（相當於今日EUR 36,500）
描述：1740-1850年青玉留皮雕鼻烟壺
專家評論：比較非常相近的雕刻風格，棕褐色留皮精雕細刻，並將青玉部分留白。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2002年3月21日，lot 258
價格：USD 22,325（相當於今日EUR 34,500）
描述：1740-1850年青玉留皮雕鼻烟壺
專家評論：比較非常相近的雕刻風格，棕褐色留皮精雕細刻，並將青玉部分留白。