Lot 477. An olive-green and russet jade snuff bottle, 1740-1850. Estimate USD 6,000 - USD 8,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2016.

The bottle is carved from opaque and mottled russet areas of the natural skin. Each narrow side is carved with a mask handle and an archaistic four-character seal script inscription, one readingchang le yong kang ('long life, eternal happiness'), the other yan nian yi shou ('May you have prolonged longevity'), and a studio name in archaic seal script, ji jin zhen shi fang ('The boat pavilion of auspicious bronze and sturdy rock'), is on the base. 2 5/8 in. (6.6 cm.) high, jadeite stopper.

Provenance: Hugh Moss (HK) Ltd., Hong Kong.
Joe Grimberg Collection, Singapore.
Robert Kleiner, Belfont Company Ltd., Hong Kong.
Hugh Moss (HK) Ltd., Hong Kong, 2004.
Ruth and Carl Barron Collection, Belmont, Massachusetts, no. 4068.

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

Notes: The seal mark on the base, ji jin zhen shi fang, may be associated with the late Qing carver Wang Rong (1817-1882), who publishedJi jin zhen shi fang bai mei yin, a collection of seal impressions made from seals carved after the last names of one hundred beauties from various Chinese classical works.

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