A JADEITE SNUFF BOTTLE DEPICTING A CARP TRANSFORMING INTO A DRAGON, CHINA, 1770-1850

Expert’s note:
This bottle is perhaps one of the most exciting of all carved jadeite examples. The shape has a perfect formal integrity which is greatly enhanced by the tall, flared neck with a lipped rim. The carved decoration stands in unusually high relief and in the undulating rhythms of the dragon's back, shows a confident line of which an accomplished painter with a brush would be proud of. The entire composition, however, is truly brought to life by the exceptionally fine hollowing, which allows the light to be transmitted through the body, revealing the icy texture of the stone. This adds enormously to the energy of the piece, creating the appearance of a raging storm through which the dragons are scything unmoved. The fashion for extreme hollowing was probably inspired by the advent of Mughal jades into China in the 1750s and may have played some part in the conception of this bottle. However, most bottles of this ultra-hollowed group are uncarved and rely solely on their hollowing for their impact, whereas on the present bottle the hollowing actually adds to the impact of the carving.

Of flattened globular form, exceptionally well hollowed, finely carved in high relief with a continuous scene depicting a carp emerging from the waves to transform into a dragon chasing a flaming pearl, with cloud billows on the shoulders. The well-polished translucent stone is of an apple-green hue with emerald-green patches, paler shadings, and icy inclusions.


Provenance:
Collection of Gerry P. Mack. Robert Kleiner & Co. Ltd., London, United Kingdom, 2010. Private collection in the United Kingdom, acquired from the above. A copy of the original invoice from Robert Kleiner & Co. Ltd., dated 30 June 2010, confirming the dating above, and stating a purchase price for this present lot of GBP 5,000 or approx.
EUR 10,500
(converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing), accompanies this lot. According to Robert Kleiner’s foreword to the catalog of his single owner sale at Christie's, he “was one of the great snuff bottle collectors of the twentieth century. The bottles for which Gerry had a weakness have stood the test of time and, more remarkably, of our increased knowledge of the subject. Gerry's achievement was to align on bottles which he liked and which are still highly sought after and in many cases among the finest of their type.”

Condition:
Superb condition with minor old wear and occasional light scratches. The stone with natural inclusions and fissures.

Stopper: Agate with bronze collar
Weight: 87 g
Dimensions: Height incl. stopper 74 mm, Diameter neck 22 mm and mouth 7 mm


The depiction of a carp turning into a dragon
alludes to the path of the scholar who must leap like a carp across the Longmen Falls in order to transform into a dragon, meaning to pass his examinations.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 31 May 2015, lot 192
Price: HKD 150,000 or approx.
EUR 20,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rectangular jadeite ‘dragon and flaming pearl’ snuff bottle, Qing dynasty, 18th/19th century
Expert remark: Compare the related color of the jadeite, manner of carving, and subject (albeit depicting only a dragon). Note the different form. Note that this bottle was also previously in the collection of Gerry P. Mack and subsequently with Robert Kleiner.




1770-1850
年翡翠鯉魚躍龍門鼻煙壺


呈扁平球狀，掏膛極好，高浮雕鯉魚躍龍門追火珠，壺肩上雲朵翻滾。表面拋光良好，半透明玉石呈蘋果綠色，帶有翠綠色紋理和白色絮狀物。


來源
：
Gerry P. Mack收藏；英國倫敦Robert Kleiner & Co. Ltd.藝廊，2010年；英國私人收藏，購於上述藝廊。隨附一份 2010年6月30日Robert Kleiner & Co. Ltd.出具的原始發票的副本，確認製作時間與售價GBP 5,000 或相當於
EUR 10,500
(根據通貨膨脹率)。根據 Robert Kleiner 在其佳士得獨家拍賣目錄的前言中寫道，他“是二十世紀最偉大的鼻煙壺收藏家之一。Gerry有弱點的瓶子經受住了時間的考驗，更值得注意的是，我們對這個主題的了解不斷增加。Gerry成就是收藏他喜歡的瓶子，這些瓶子仍然受到高度推崇，並且在許多情況下都是同類產品中最好的。”
品相：
狀況極佳，有輕微磨損和劃痕。玉石具有天然內沁和裂縫。

壺蓋：瑪瑙，銅托片
重量：87 克
尺寸：總高 74 毫米，頸部直徑22 毫米，壺口 7 毫米


拍賣結果比較：

形制：相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2015年5月31日，lot 192
價格：HKD 150,000（相當於今日
EUR 20,500
）
描述：清十八 / 十九世紀翠玉逐珠雲龍圖鼻煙壺
專家評論：比較相近的翡翠顏色 、雕刻風格，以及主題(僅有一條龍)。請注意不同的外形，以及此鼻煙壺曾先後藏於Gerry P. Mack和Robert Kleiner。