The compressed body is carved overall with swirling clouds and scale-like skies, with two horned dragons weaving their bodies through the clouds in pursuit of the flaming pearl located at the side. 2 7/8 in. (7.8 cm.) high, rose quartz stopper

Provenance: Hugh Moss (HK) Ltd., Hong Kong, 2004.
Ruth and Carl Barron Collection, Belmont, Massachusetts, no. 4066.

Exhibited: Boston, International Chinese Snuff Bottle Convention, The Barron Collection, 23-26 September 2008.

Notes: Based on the size, material and ingenious use of the natural markings in the stone, we can likely attribute this bottle to the second phase of production of the Suzhou school. As Moss points out, "The second phase probably began to evolve during the Kangxi period but was certainly established by the early Qianlong...One feature of this classic group is that many of them are fairly large bottles, and as we have already suggested, large bottles do not seem to have evolved as a standard form until the Qianlong period" (see Moss and Tsang, The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle, The J & J Collection, 1993, p. 66).

Christie's. The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part III, 14 September 2016, New York, Rockefeller Plaza