A black glass overlay snuff bottle imitating repaired porcelain, 1760-1840. Photo Bonhams.

Of compressed spherical form, with a flat lip and oval foot rim around a convex foot, the black glass overlay carved to resemble nine rivets, with fixed ring mask handles to the sides. 2 1/4in (5.6 cm) high. Estimate US$ 3,000 - 5,000 (€2,200 - 3,600)

A small number of bottles with the black overlay carved to mimic the rivets used to repair porcelain are known. For another "nine rivet" example see Moss, Graham, and Tsang The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle, the J & J collection New York, 1993, no. 388, and one formerly in the collection of Bob Stevens illustrated in Chinese Snuff Bottles and Dishes, Tokyo, 1978, no 56.

Property from the Collection of Emmanuel Dimitri Gran (1894-1969)

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