A RARE CAMEO JASPER SNUFF BOTTLE, OFFICIAL SCHOOL, QING DYNASTY China, 1750-1850. Well hollowed, of rounded-rectangular form with a concave lip and flat oval recessed foot, ingeniously carved utilizing the yellowish-ochre markings to depict a Buddhist lion and cub playing with a brocade ball, the reverse carved in relief with Zhong Kui raising his sword amid a bat and lingzhi. The stone of a brownish-red tone with a dark coral-red patch with black veining to one side.

Provenance: Collection particulière dans le département Eure-et-Loir, France.
Condition: Very good condition with minor old wear and few minuscule nibbles.

Stopper: Green cabochon on metal collar with metal spoon
Weight: 106.4 g
Dimensions: Height including stopper 79 mm. Diameter neck 21 mm and mouth 8 mm.

Jasper is a fascinating material with a wide range of possible colors, even in a single specimen. This extraordinary example, however, is made from material of exceptional quality and range, with distinct layers of color, allowing for the rare technique of double layers of carving.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's New York, 30 March 2005, lot 35
Price: USD 42,000 or approx. EUR 59,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A fine and rare carved cameo jasper snuff bottle, Official school, 1750-1850
Expert remark: Compare the closely identical form, manner of carving, and color of the stone.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 26 May 2013, lot 221
Price: HKD 162,500 or approx. EUR 24,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A jasper 'toad' snuff bottle official school, Qing dynasty, late 18th/mid-19th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, manner of carving, and color of the stone.



清代罕見碧玉鼻烟壺，清宮造辦處
中國，1750-1850年。掏膛良好，直頸，四方圓角，橢圓形圈足。一側巧妙地利用黃赭色紋理，浮雕描繪太獅少獅在玩錦球；背面有深珊瑚紅色斑塊和黑色脈紋，浮雕鍾馗舉劍，空中飛舞蝙蝠與如意祥雲。

來源：法國 Eure-et-Loir省私人收藏。
品相：品相良好，輕微磨損和磕損。

壺蓋：綠色蓋，金屬托片，金屬小勺
重量：106.4 克
尺寸：高 （含蓋）79 毫米，頸部直徑21 毫米及壺口直徑8 毫米

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2005年3月30日，lot 35
價格：USD 42,000（相當於今日EUR 59,500）
描述：1750-1850年清代罕見碧玉鼻烟壺，清宮造辦處
專家評論：比較非常相同的外型、雕刻風格和色調。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2013年5月26日，lot 221
價格：HKD 162,500（相當於今日EUR 24,500）
描述：十八世紀晚期和十九世紀中期清代碧玉蟾蜍鼻烟壺，清宮造辦處
專家評論：比較非常相近的外型、雕刻風格和色調。