A WHITE JADE 'KUILONG' SNUFF BOTTLE, PROBABLY IMPERIAL, 1750-1820 Opinion: The present bottle is of exceptional quality. The jade of pure white color, the bottle superbly hollowed to the interior, and the stone smoothly polished with an inimitable unctuous feel overall. Bottom line: Only the lapidaries from the Imperial workshops in Suzhou had the skills indispensable to carving a jade at the quality level shown by the present bottle.

China. Well hollowed, of rounded rectangular form, carved on either side with two kui dragons confronted on a flaming pearl, the configuration of their undulating bodies suggestive of a shou character, the narrow sides with further kui dragons. The translucent stone of even white tone with few icy inclusions and a faint russet vein.

Provenance: Collection particulière dans le département Eure-et-Loir, France.
Condition: Superb condition with only minor old wear and possibly microscopic nicks. The stone with natural fissures and inclusions.

Stopper: Pink tourmaline cabochon with glass finial in imitation of emerald green jade, remarkably well carved spoon. The combination is most likely original to this bottle and also made by the Imperial workshops.

Weight: 115.3 g
Dimensions: Height including stopper 87 mm. Diameter neck 23 mm and mouth 8 mm.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Near identical
Auction: Christie's New York, 15 September 2011, lot 1177
Price: USD 43,750 or approx. EUR 53,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A carved white jade snuff bottle, probably imperial, 1750-1820
Expert remark: Compare the near identical form and design, as well as the color of the jade. Note the significantly smaller size of 62 mm (excluding the stopper) and the slightly lower quality of the jade color.



1750-1820年白玉夔龍鼻烟壺，或爲御製
中國。掏膛良好，四方圓肩，兩面皆浮雕夔龍戲珠紋，形如壽字。兩側也有夔龍紋。半透明的玉料呈均勻的白色，輕微冰狀紋理和褐色脈絡。

專家注釋：此拍品質量上乘，純白的玉料，精美壺身，表面光滑，整體瑩潤優雅。只有蘇州御作坊的匠人才具備雕刻玉石不可缺少的技能，達到本瓶所顯示的質量水平。

來源：法國 Eure-et-Loir省私人收藏。
品相：品相極好，只有輕微的磨損和細微刻痕，石料具有天然裂縫和內沁。

壺蓋：粉紅色碧璽，仿翡翠綠玻璃頂，雕刻精美的勺子。這種組合也意味著這個鼻烟壺很可能是御製。

重量：115.3 克
尺寸：高 （含蓋）87 毫米，頸部直徑23 毫米及壺口直徑8 毫米

拍賣結果比較：
形制：幾乎相同
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2011年9月15日，lot 1177
價格：USD 43,750（相當於今日EUR 53,500）
描述：1750-1820年白玉鼻烟壺，或爲御製
專家評論：比較幾乎相同的外型和設計，以及玉石顏色。請注意幾乎相同的小尺寸62 毫米 (不含壺蓋)，以及品質稍微低的玉石顏色。