A WHITE JADE 'HUNDRED SHOU CHARACTER' LONGEVITY SNUFF BOTTLE, ATTRIBUTED TO THE IMPERIAL PALACE WORKSHOPS
China, Beijing, 1730-1830. Well hollowed, of flattened spade form, rising from a concave oval foot to a slightly waisted neck with a flat mouth. The body finely carved in low relief to each side with fifty microscopic shou medallions within a shaped panel, the narrow sides incised with bands of key-fret. The translucent stone of a beautiful and pure white tone with few icy inclusions. Good polish overall.


Provenance:
The Joan and Ted Dorf Collection, no. 292. Joan and Ted Dorf (1926-2020) were collectors of snuff bottles for over fifty years, in a lifelong passion that paralleled the deep love they felt for each other during their 67 years of marriage. Their enthusiasm eventually spilled over into collecting scholarly Chinese works of art as well. Ted served as a director on the board of the International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society (ICSBS) between 2006 and 2012, and was also its vice-president from 2009 to 2011. Despite a flourishing career in radio broadcasting, he always found time for collecting and co-chaired ICSBS conventions in Washington, D.C., and Palm Beach, Florida. The Joan and Ted Dorf Collection has been exhibited at the Norton Museum of Art in Palm Beach, and most recently at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore.

Condition:
Superb condition with minor wear.

Stopper: Glass
Weight: 23.2 g
Dimensions: Height including stopper 62 mm. Diameter neck 11 mm and mouth 5 mm.


Literature comparison:

For two jade snuff bottles carved with multiple shou characters in the Qing Court Collection, see The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - 47 - Snuff Bottles, Hong Kong, 2003, pp. 151-52, nos. 228 and 229.


Auction comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 27 May 2012, lot 153
Price: HKD 175,000 or approx.
EUR 27,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A white nephrite 'longevity' snuff bottle, 1730-1860
Expert remark: Note the size (6.75 cm).


Auction comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 14 September 2017, lot 728
Estimate: USD 18,750 or approx.
EUR 21,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A superb white jade faceted snuff bottle, probably imperial palace workshops, Beijing, Qianlong period (1736-1795)
Expert remark: Note the size (5.7 cm).




白玉百壽紋鼻煙壺

中國北京，1730-1830年。掏膛良好。扁平壺，口外撇，縮頸，寬肩，直腹下斂，橢圓形足内凹。鼻煙壺兩面淺浮雕各有五十個不同的壽字，窄邊刻有雷紋飾帶。半透明的白玉，輕微的絮狀物，整體拋光良好。


來源：
Joan與Ted Dorf收藏，編號292。Joan與Ted Dorf (1926-2020) 收藏鼻煙壺已有五十多年的歷史，他們畢生對鼻煙壺的熱情與他們六十七年婚姻中對彼此的深愛不相上下。他們最終開始收藏中國學術藝術品。2006 年至2012 年間，Ted 擔任國際中國鼻煙壺協會(ICSBS) 的董事，並於2009 年至2011 年擔任該協會的副主席。儘管他在廣播領域的事業蒸蒸日上，但他總是抽出時間並主持了在華盛頓特區和佛羅里達州棕櫚灘舉行的 ICSBS 大會。Joan與Ted Dorf的收藏曾在棕櫚灘的諾頓藝術博物館展出，最近又在巴爾的摩沃爾特斯藝術博物館展出。

品相：
狀況極佳，有輕微磨損。

壺蓋：玻璃
重量：23.2 克
尺寸：含蓋高62 毫米，頸部直徑11 毫米，壺口直徑 5 毫米


文獻比較：

兩件清廷收藏壽紋玉鼻煙壺，見《北京故宮院藏文物珍品全集‧47‧鼻煙壺》，香港，2003年，頁151-52，編號228和229。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港邦翰斯，2012年5月27日，lot 153
價格：HKD 175,000（相當於今日
EUR 27,500
）
描述：白玉壽字紋鼻煙壺
專家評論：請注意尺寸(6.75 厘米)。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2017年9月14日，lot 728
估價：USD 18,750（相當於今日
EUR 21,500
）
描述：北京乾隆白玉鼻煙壺，或為御製
專家評論：請注意尺寸(5.7 厘米)。