A RED OVERLAY GLASS ‘CELESTIAL EYE AND CARPS’ SNUFF BOTTLE, 18TH-19TH CENTURYChina, 1760-1840. The transparent, ruby-red overlay is carved through to the bubble-suffused clear glass ground to each side with a ‘celestial eye’ goldfish and a carp amid water weeds, the fish’s positions reversed on the opposite side. The pear-shaped body supported on a thick oval foot and rising to a tall cylindrical neck.Provenance: From an old private collection in the United Kingdom, acquired in Shanghai and Hong Kong from the 1930s onwards, and thence by descent.Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and expected manufacturing irregularities, one tiny nibble to mouth.Stopper: Jadeite, bronze collar with incised decoration, good spoonWeight: 47.2 gDimensions: Height incl. stopper 68 mm. Diameter neck 14 mm and mouth 7 mmCelestial eye goldfish or Choutengan is a double-tailed breed of fancy goldfish that has a defining pair of telescope eyes which are turned upwards, pupils gazing skyward. Celestial eye goldfish in a pond were a popular motif during the Qing dynasty.Auction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 4 June 2021, lot 1082Price: HKD 23,940 or approx.EUR 3,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A red overlay white glass ‘fish’ snuff bottle, Qing dynasty, 18th-19th centuryExpert remark: Note the size (7 cm)Auction resultparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Christie’s New York, 12 September 2018, lot 648Price: USD 1,750 or approx.EUR 2,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A red-overlay clear glass snuff bottle, probably Imperial, palace workshops, Beijing, 1760-1840Expert remark: Note the size (7.9 cm)十八至十九世紀寶石紅套料金魚鯉魚紋鼻煙壺中國，1760-1840年。鼻煙壺平口，直頸，溜肩，垂腹，圈足外撇。霏雪地套透明的紅寶石色料，每一側都雕刻著一條金魚和一條鯉魚相對，在水中嬉戲。