A WHITE JADE ‘NIULANG AND IMMORTAL’ SNUFF BOTTLE, 18TH-19TH CENTURYExpert’s note: The translucent stone is of an even white tone with few icy inclusions and a faint russet vein on the backside. The color is almost pure on the front side and truly white, unlike many ‘white’ jades appearing on the markets today. The very fine and detailed carving is in shallow yet distinct relief and may be attributed to the Zhiting school, Suzhou, c. 1760-1840.China. Very well hollowed, of flattened ovoid form, supported on an oval foot ring and surmounted by a short waisted neck with a concave mouth. Carved to one side with a funny depiction of Niulang on his ox, holding a twig to reach his hat that winded up on a rock. The reverse with an immortal resting on a rocky outpost and scratching his back with the help of a stick, a scroll laying behind him, the narrow sides with rockwork and branches of prunus.Provenance: Sotheby’s London, 6 December 1995, lot 623. A Dutch private collection, acquired from the above and thence by descent. Sotheby’s Amsterdam, 22 May 2006, lot 191 (dated to the 19th century). The Moeskops Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles, acquired from the above, and thence by descent.Condition: Superb condition with only minor old wear and little nibbling. The stone with natural inclusions and fissures, some of which may have developed into small hairline cracks over time. A minuscule chip to the rim of the stopper. The surface of this jade bottle feels remarkably soft and unctuous, a result of centuries of handling and appreciation.Stopper: Banded agateWeight: 65.9 gDimensions: Height including stopper 64 mm. Diameter neck 18 mm and mouth 6 mm.Auction resultparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Christie’s New York, 19 September 2014, lot 1209Price: USD 13,750 or approx.EUR 15,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A White Jade Snuff Bottle, 1750-1850Expert remark:pare the closely related form, color, carving, and size.十八至十九世紀白玉牛郎鼻煙壺中國，掏膛良好。扁平圓角，橢圓形圈足，短頸。一側雕刻著牛郎騎在他的牛身上，他拿著一根樹枝夠到他的帽子，帽子纏繞在一塊岩石上。背面是一位神仙靠在岩石前，用一根棍子撓他的背，他身後放著一卷軸，狹窄的側面有岩石和樹枝。專家注釋：半透明玉料呈均勻的白色調，内有輕微絮狀物，背面有淡淡的赤褐色脈絡。正面的顏色幾乎是純白的，真正的白色，不像現在市場上出現的許多“白”玉。非常細膩的雕刻，可能來自蘇州的芝亭畫派。