chine Sculpted translucent violet glass, imitation amethyst Rare snuffbox in violet glass, carved, “amethyst imitation,” with a landscape with inscriptions - 6.6 cm

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Sarah Le Helley
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Selected by Sarah Le Helley

Studied Asian art and art market management; researched art in Taipei; worked in auctions.

Estimate  € 1,400 - € 1,600
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A Qing-dynasty snuff bottle, dating from the 18th to early 19th century, made of carved translucent violet glass imitating amethyst and decorated with a literati landscape.

AI-assisted summary

Description from the seller

Beautiful and rare Chinese snuff bottle in translucent violet glass, sculpted, made during the Qing dynasty, in the 18th century or early 19th century.

The glass, a deep purple tone reminiscent of amethyst, has been entirely carved in relief to create a continuous, particularly decorative landscape. One can discern pavilions nestled among rocks, gnarled trees, lush vegetation, stylized clouds, and a scholar with his staff walking along. The sculpture extends across the entire body and fully utilizes the transparency and depth variations of the glass.

The bottle has an flattened oval form, a small oval foot, and a short neck with a wide opening—characteristics found on ancient Qing-period snuff bottles. The material shows small bubbles and internal irregularities typical of ancient glassmaking.

The domed red-glass stopper is accompanied by its cork and its spoon.

The piece is in very good overall condition, with only minor signs of use and a few small manufacturing irregularities.

Dimensions: 6.6 × 3.5 × 2 cm
Weight: 45.6 g

Provenance: French trade, then the European art market. Acquired in 2024 from a house specializing in Asian art.

Seller's Story

MIMOSA SA — EXPERTISE, RESEARCH AND TRANSMISSION For more than 26 years, I have been working as an art dealer specializing in ancient Asian arts. My work is not simply to offer objects: it is to observe them, to understand them, to study them and to document them before passing them to a new collector. Each work presented by Mimosa SA undergoes thorough examination. Depending on its nature, this study may concern the iconography, the style, the proportions, the material, the execution techniques, surface traces, patina, the condition, restorations, provenance as well as relevant bibliographic, museum or archaeological comparisons. When justified, additional scientific analyses may also be undertaken. Our approach rests on the experience of sight, gained from direct contact with the works for over two decades, but also on methodical and constantly renewed research. We always favor a cautious, coherent and argued attribution rather than a seductive but insufficiently substantiated assertion. Transparency is at the heart of our approach. The wear, gaps, accidents, ancient restorations or more recent interventions are reported as precisely as possible. When an attribution carries uncertainty or remains a working hypothesis, it is clearly presented as such. Present on Catawiki since 2016, we have chosen to maintain a regular selection of works there in order to meet international collectors who value authenticity, knowledge and quality of documentation. Each acquisition is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued under our professional responsibility. For the most important works, this certificate takes the form of a genuine study dossier gathering the main technical, stylistic, iconographic, historical and bibliographic observations made during our research. The same standard applies to shipping. Over the years, we have developed a packaging method adapted to old, fragile, heavy or complex-shaped objects. Each work is protected, immobilized and carefully packaged, according to its material and its particularities. The shipping costs correspond to the real needs for protection, handling, insurance and secure transport. Shipping is never regarded as a source of commercial profit. Acquiring a work from Mimosa SA is to receive a selected, studied, described, documented and prepared object with the same care that we would wish for a work destined for our own collection.
Translated by Google Translate

Beautiful and rare Chinese snuff bottle in translucent violet glass, sculpted, made during the Qing dynasty, in the 18th century or early 19th century.

The glass, a deep purple tone reminiscent of amethyst, has been entirely carved in relief to create a continuous, particularly decorative landscape. One can discern pavilions nestled among rocks, gnarled trees, lush vegetation, stylized clouds, and a scholar with his staff walking along. The sculpture extends across the entire body and fully utilizes the transparency and depth variations of the glass.

The bottle has an flattened oval form, a small oval foot, and a short neck with a wide opening—characteristics found on ancient Qing-period snuff bottles. The material shows small bubbles and internal irregularities typical of ancient glassmaking.

The domed red-glass stopper is accompanied by its cork and its spoon.

The piece is in very good overall condition, with only minor signs of use and a few small manufacturing irregularities.

Dimensions: 6.6 × 3.5 × 2 cm
Weight: 45.6 g

Provenance: French trade, then the European art market. Acquired in 2024 from a house specializing in Asian art.

Seller's Story

MIMOSA SA — EXPERTISE, RESEARCH AND TRANSMISSION For more than 26 years, I have been working as an art dealer specializing in ancient Asian arts. My work is not simply to offer objects: it is to observe them, to understand them, to study them and to document them before passing them to a new collector. Each work presented by Mimosa SA undergoes thorough examination. Depending on its nature, this study may concern the iconography, the style, the proportions, the material, the execution techniques, surface traces, patina, the condition, restorations, provenance as well as relevant bibliographic, museum or archaeological comparisons. When justified, additional scientific analyses may also be undertaken. Our approach rests on the experience of sight, gained from direct contact with the works for over two decades, but also on methodical and constantly renewed research. We always favor a cautious, coherent and argued attribution rather than a seductive but insufficiently substantiated assertion. Transparency is at the heart of our approach. The wear, gaps, accidents, ancient restorations or more recent interventions are reported as precisely as possible. When an attribution carries uncertainty or remains a working hypothesis, it is clearly presented as such. Present on Catawiki since 2016, we have chosen to maintain a regular selection of works there in order to meet international collectors who value authenticity, knowledge and quality of documentation. Each acquisition is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued under our professional responsibility. For the most important works, this certificate takes the form of a genuine study dossier gathering the main technical, stylistic, iconographic, historical and bibliographic observations made during our research. The same standard applies to shipping. Over the years, we have developed a packaging method adapted to old, fragile, heavy or complex-shaped objects. Each work is protected, immobilized and carefully packaged, according to its material and its particularities. The shipping costs correspond to the real needs for protection, handling, insurance and secure transport. Shipping is never regarded as a source of commercial profit. Acquiring a work from Mimosa SA is to receive a selected, studied, described, documented and prepared object with the same care that we would wish for a work destined for our own collection.
Translated by Google Translate

Details

Culture
chine
Century/timeframe
XVIIIe – début XIXe siècle | Dynastie Qing
Name of object
Rare snuffbox in violet glass, carved, “amethyst imitation,” with a landscape with inscriptions
Acquired from
Auction house
Year acquired
2024
Material
Sculpted translucent violet glass, imitation amethyst
Country acquired from
Austria
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Private collection
Height
6.6 cm
Previous owner - year acquired
2000
Width
3.5 cm
Previous owner - country acquired from
France
Depth
2 cm
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
BelgiumVerified
514
Objects sold
88.89%
pro

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