A ROCK CRYSTAL ‘BATS AND QILONG’ SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Clear rock crystal, with a cloudy ‘ice

A ROCK CRYSTAL ‘BATS AND QILONG’ SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY Clear rock crystal, with a cloudy ‘ice crack’ pattern, smooth surface with silky flat polish. China, 18th-19th centuryElegantly carved to depict a dominating Qilong, surrounded by flying bats on both sides, one carrying a lingzhi in its mouth. The wings of the bats designed to resemble the Qilong’s tail, adding an arabesque nuance to the scene.Shape: Elongated, slightly bulbous form with broad shouldersHollowing: ExcellentMouth, neck and lip: Short cylindric neck, convex top, small mouth, inside cylinder symmetric to outsideBase: Small oval base with elevated and rounded foot rimStopper: Agate, of honey color, carved in the shape of a turretHeight of the bottle with stopper: 7.8 cmWidth of the mouth: 7 mmWidth of the neck: 17 mmCondition: PerfectProvenance: Australian private collectionLiterature comparison: Bob C. Stevens, The Collectors Book of Snuff Bottles, lots 459-467. (for a good overview of various bottles from the rock crystal family) CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES. Bonham’s, September 12th 2016, NEW YORK, lot 9020. (for another rock crystal ‘bats’ bottle).Expertise: Alexander Zacke水晶蝙蝠螭龍鼻煙壺, 清代清澈水晶, 帶“冰裂”雲紋, 平整表面, 光滑絲磨, 中國, 18/19世紀巧妙地雕成螭龍雄身, 蝙蝠兩邊圈飛, 一帶靈芝在口. 蝠翅像龍尾, 加上一種蔓藤花紋感覺.形狀：長稍微球形, 寬肩掏膛：完整瓶口、頸、瓶唇： 短圓柱形頸, 頭部凸出, 圓柱內部與外部相對底足：小橢圓底, 圓形凸出足邊蓋: 蜜色瑪瑙雕成塔形高（帶蓋）：7.8厘米口徑：0.7厘米頸部直徑：1.7厘米狀態敘述：完善來源：澳大利亞私人舊藏文獻: Bob C. Stevens, 《中國鼻煙壺收藏指南》, 編號459-467. CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES. Bonham’s, 2016年9月12日, NEW YORK, 編號9020.