AN AMETHYST ‘IMMORTALS’ SNUFF BOTTLE, 1750-1850China. Well hollowed, of tapering ovoid form, supported on an oval foot with recessed base, surmounted by a waisted neck with straight rim. One side carved with Shoulao holding his staff in his right hand and a peach in his left, standing below a pine tree, the reverse depicting Liu Hai holding cash coins and looking down at the three-legged toad, framed by a plantain.Provenance: From a private collection in Pennsylvania, USA. The base with an old label, ‘H 2081 90.00’.Condition: Good condition, a chip to the upper rim, few small nibbles here and there.Stopper: Glass in imitation of jadeiteWeight: 58.7 gDimensions: Height including stopper 71 mm. Diameter neck 12 mm and mouth 6 mm.The transparent stone is of an attractive and intense violet tone with contrasting light and deep violet areas interspersed with dark specks, the lighter areas skillfully utilized by the lapidary to depict Liu Hai and the three-legged toad.Auction resultparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Sotheby’s New York, 14 September 2010, lot 161Price: USD 8,125 or approx.EUR 10,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: An amethyst snuff bottleExpert remark:pare the closely related color of the stone, motif, and related form. Note the size (63 mm).1750-1850年紫晶《壽老劉海》鼻煙壺中國。掏膛良好，直頸，呈橢圓形，並橢圓形圈足，一面雕刻松下壽老，一手執杖，一手持桃；另一面可見劉海戯金蟾。