Grey Jadeite Snuff Bottle

B10

Jadeite, pale grey with a blue tinge, suffused with creamy cloud-like inclusions, exceptionally well hollowed, resulting in paper thin walls; the bottle of well proportioned bulbous form, with slightly raised oval foot with a flared neck and concave mouth.

Chinese, 1730-1780
Stopper: pink coral on a turquoise collar with pearl finial
Provenance: Hugh Moss Ltd, London, 1974
Height: 4.8cm

This is as good as they get - a beautifully constructed, perfectly hollowed bottle carved from an exquisite, delicate coloured sample of jade. The perfect rounded shape has been dictated by the 'awkwardness factor' with regard to the hollowing process - this being one of the few shapes that can be completely and evenly hollowed to the ultimate thinness.