30 - A RARE CARAMEL COLOURED GLASS CARVED ‘KUI DRAGONS’ SNUFF BOTTLE

A RARE CARAMEL COLOURED GLASS CARVED ‘KUI DRAGONS’ SNUFF BOTTLE IMPERIAL, PALACE WORKSHOPS, 1730-1800 To Be Sold Without Reserve Of elongated-ovoid form with a slightly flared neck with an upper-neck-rim, carved with a continuous, symmetrical design of four Kui dragons with chi-dragon-like heads alternately facing each other or addorsed, and each linked to the next by a band tying their tails and forepaws Height: 6.5cm Provenance: Robert Kleiner, 1995 Robert and Molly Hsieh Collection Sotheby’s, New York, 23rd March 2004, lot 35 Hugh Moss (HK) Ltd, 22nd October 2007, (a copy of the original invoice available) This unique Palace glass snuff bottle seems to be related to a group of Imperial chalcedony or agate bottles produced at the court in a range of caramel, honey-beige, and grey material. Kui dragons of this type, linked often with tied bands as they are here, are a standard Imperial motif from the eighteenth century and appear on the group of chalcedony bottles and on other Imperial wares, although whether the glass or the agate versions came first is less clear. The long, sinuous bodies of the Kui and chi dragons represent long life, and when they are linked together as they are here, and so frequently in this series of designs, they reinforce the concept of longevity by becoming endless Ω This Lot was imported from outside of the UK, under the Temporary Admission regime 5% import VAT will be charged on the ‘hammer” and 20% VAT will be charged on the ‘buyer’s premium