A BALTIC AMBER ‘QILONG’ SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Baltic amber, opaque, of intensive egg-yolk

A BALTIC AMBER ‘QILONG’ SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Baltic amber, opaque, of intensive egg-yolk color, with organic inclusions in shades of creamy caramel streaking across the body, the surface with a smooth and even polish. Baltic amber is characterized by this rich yellow tone, also referred to as jiyouhuang or 'chicken oil yellow', and is harvested from fossilized tree resin which has endured intense pressure and heat underground for thousands of years. This material was valuable to the Qing court, where it was prized for its natural beauty. China, 1750-1850Elegantly carved in slight relief to depict a four clawed Qilong chasing the flaming pearl. A minor natural irregularity in the material was well used by the carver to enhance the Qilong’s three-dimensional appearance.Shape: Flattened rectangular form with rounded shouldersHollowing: ExcellentMouth, neck and lip: Short tapered neck of cylindric form, flat top, deep and symmetric inner cylinder with narrow mouthBase: Oval form with broad and slightly raised foot rimStopper: Lucent apple green jade with minor imperfections, nice ivory spoonHeight of the bottle with stopper: 6.3 cmWidth of the mouth: 5 mmWidth of the neck: 15 mmCondition: Good with almost invisible fritting to inner and outer lip, and only little wear Provenance: American private collection, old collectors label with number “151” on bottomLiterature comparison: SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE MARY & GEORGE BLOCH COLLECTION: PART VII. Sotheby’s, November 26th 2013, HONG KONG, lot 28. (for a similar bottle, possibly from the same carver or carving school) Snuff Bottles in the Collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1991, p.254, pl.378. (for a related amber snuff bottle with its original lacquer box) THE PAUL BRAGA COLLECTION OF SNUFF BOTTLES. Bonham’s, November 24th 2012, Hong Kong, lot 1 (for a bottle of similar material and color, but without carved design) Bob C. Stevens, The Collectors Book of Snuff Bottles, lot 700. (for a similar bottle) Hugh M. Moss, Snuff Bottles of China, lot 157. (for a similar bottle).Expertise: Alexander Zacke波羅的海琥珀螭龍鼻煙壺, 清代波羅的海琥珀, 不透明濃黃色, 有機部分成奶油色棕色, 平整磨光. 這種顏色在波羅的海琥珀石頗為典型, 又叫雞油黃. 實際上是化石的樹脂, 在地裡面被壓縮幾千年成石. 滿清皇家頗為看重, 其自然美色當作尤其珍貴. 中國, 1750–1850形狀：扁平長方，削肩掏膛：完整瓶口、頸、瓶唇：短錐圓柱形頸, 頭平, 內部橢圓深雕對稱, 窄口底足：橢圓形, 寬足邊稍微突出蓋: 綠玉蓋，細小處變形，象牙牙勺高（帶蓋）：6.3厘米口徑：0.5厘米頸部直徑：1.5厘米狀態敘述：良好,唇外部細微缺陷來源：美國私人舊藏, 底足可見舊收藏標籤(“編號151”)文獻: SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE MARY & GEORGE BLOCH COLLECTION: PART VII. Sotheby’s, 2013年11月26日, HONG KONG, 編號28. THE PAUL BRAGA COLLECTION OF SNUFF BOTTLES. Bonham’s, 2012年11月24日, Hong Kong, 編號 1. Bob C. Stevens, 《中國鼻煙壺收藏指南》, lot 700. Hugh M. Moss, Snuff Bottles of China, 編號157.