A fine white jade 'moonflask' snuff bottle


18th/19th centuryOf flattened spherical form with a rounded base rising to a waisted neck flanked by two elegantly arched strap handles, above a floral collar at the shoulder, the stone of an even white tone, stopper. 5cm (2in) high. (2).
|十八/十九世紀 白玉抱月瓶式鼻煙壺Provenance:A distinguished Asian private collection來源：亞洲顯赫私人收藏The snuff bottle combines innovation and archaism, drawing its inspiration in its form from early Ming dynasty prototypes, incorporating the shape of a porcelain moonflask into the design of a jade snuff bottle, reflecting the trend of innovation within tradition in the Palace Workshops during the 18th century.For related examples using the same idea, compare with a white jade bottle in the form of an archaic bronze hu, Qianlong mark and period, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in Lifting the Spirit and Body: The Art and Culture of Snuff Bottles, Taipei, 2012, p.158, no.III-001; see also a white jade snuff bottle of related shape, 1780-1880, with floral loops for a cord, illustrated by H.Moss in Snuff Bottles of China, London, 1971, p.71, no.28. Compare also a white jade 'meiping' bottle, probably imperial, 1736-1800, from the Mary and George Bloch collection, which was sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 27 May 2012, lot 135.其他仿器皿造型之鼻煙壺，可參考台北國立故宮博物院藏一件清乾隆帶款白玉雙螭耳鼻煙壺，其造型為仿古青銅器，見《通嚏輕揚－鼻煙壺文化特展》，台北，2012年，頁158，編號III-001；與本壺較為相近之例，亦可參考莫士撝，《Snuff Bottles of China》，倫敦，1971年，頁71，編號28。另參考瑪麗及莊智博夫婦舊藏一件白玉梅瓶式鼻煙壺，或為御製，1736-1800年，後售於香港邦瀚斯，2012年5月27日，拍品編號135。