A reticulated soapstone snuff Bottle, 1750-1850. Photo Bonhams.

Of flattened gourd form resting on an oval flat base, with a concave lip incised with two characters, the body intricately carved in openwork on each side with two panels forming a double gourd shape to reveal the inner bottle, the neck flanked by two dragon heads in high relief, the interior of the neck threaded, with the scrolling bodies extending down the narrow sides, the bottle extensively and meticulously incised and gilded with stylised waves, the stone of a pale green tone with russet-red inclusions, with a shagreen fitted case. 1 3/4in (4.6cm) high. Estimate US$ 7,000 - 9,000 (€5,000 - 6,500

See a related example of a carnelian snuff bottle with similar pierced openwork illustrated by White, Snuff Bottles from China: The Victoria and Albert Museum Collection, London, 1992, p.66, pl.26. Another in soapstone, also with the double dragon motif is illustrated in Low Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Sanctum of Enlightened Respect III, Hong Kong, 2007 pl. 265.

Two other similar reticulated bottles have been offered in recent years, each with a threaded inner neck and numbered lip, See Sotheby's New York, September 14th, 2010 lot 54, as part of the Joe Grimberg collection, and Bonhams London, May 16, 2013, lot 216.

Bonhams.CHINESE ART FROM THE SCHOLAR'S STUDIO. 17 Mar 2014, New York - www.bonhams.com