A DUAN STONE ‘BATS AND CASH COINS’ SNUFF BOTTLE, 1760-1860China. Of flattened oval form, supported on a short foot ring, rising to a cylindrical neck slightly tapering towards the flat lip, each side carved with two confronting bats with swirling wings and centered by a cash coin. The opaque stone of a dark chocolate brown color.Provenance: An English private collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles.Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear, few minuscule nibbles to the rims, the stone with a natural fissure.Stopper: Carved glassWeight: 40.0 gDimensions: Height incl. stopper 64 mm, Diameter neck 13 mm and mouth 5 mmWith a padded silk box. (2)Bats and cash coins are both auspicious symbols in Chinese culture. The bat signifies fortune or wealth, and the cash coin is a symbol of receiving benefits. They are often shown together due to their similar meaning.This bottle is made from duan stone, a material that is highly valued by scholars and most often made into inkstones. Duan stone was traditionally used for grinding ink because of its light weight and soft but not slippery surface.Auction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: New York, 19 September 2022, lot 69Price: USD 4,080 or approx.EUR 3,800 converted at the time of writingDescription: A carved duan stone snuff bottleExpert remark:pare the related form, incision work, and material. Note the size (55 mm), inscription, and mark.1760-1860年端石蝙蝠紋鼻煙壺中國，長方圓角，直頸，短圈足。每面都雕刻著一隻圍著錢幣的蝙蝠。深褐色不透明石頭。