Up to Snuff: Rubin Family Chinese Snuff Bottles, October 2021, Selkirk

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UP TO SNUFF: Rubin Family Chinese Snuff Bottles OCTOBER 15, 2021

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UP TO SNUFF: Rubin Family Chinese Snuff Bottles

Friday | OCTOBER 15, 2021 | 10AM central | LOTS 1-142

PREVIEW: M ONDAY, OCTOBER 11 THROUGH T HURSDAY, OCTOBER 14 - 10 AM F RIDAY, OCTOBER 15 - 9 AM TO 10 AM

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COVER: Foreground Lots 30, 72, 77

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1 A RARE AND FINE AQUAMARINE GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE LIKELY IMPERIAL PALACE WORKSHOPS BEIJING China, 18th-19th century, glass. The pale blue vessel of elongated facet panel form with inverted lingzhi carvings to shoulder, above triple bosses tapering to lotus petal border at footing; matching stopper.

Compare: Lot 1085: AN ‘IMITATION AQUAMARINE’ GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE in Christie’s March 21, 2013 sale Literature: Compare with similar glass snuff bottle imitating aquamarine, from the J & J Collection and illustrated in H. Moss, V. Graham, Ka Bo. Tsang, The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle - The J & J Collection, vol.II, New York/Tokyo, 1993, no.350 & Journal of the International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society, Baltimore, Winter 1996, front cover. 2.7” height $500-2,500 2 “REALGAR” GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 18th- 19th century, mottled glass. Brilliant and fiery hues to the handsomely formed bottle raised on flatted recessed footing; jadeite stopper with stained ivory spoon. 2.75” height $300-600 3 ZHONGSHAN YE (CHINESE, 1875-1945) INSIDE PAINTED SNUFF BOTTLE Very early 20th century, glass. Rare and signed Ye Zhongshan (Beijing) double sided rendering of female figures reverse painted to glass bottle, well hollowed; high coral stopper. 2.75” height $500-1,000 4 FINE SAPPHIRE GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE China, early to mid-19th century, glass. The elegant flattened round form in deep cobalt blue with light natural transparency; rose quartz stopper, together with stand. 2.5” bottle height $200-600

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5 A BRILLIANT RED CASED GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE China, 18th century, glass. Red exterior, white interior glass on glass creating the bold, blood red color, lightly recessed ovular footing, pale green mineral stopper. The family’s 1970’s identification label remains adhered. 3” height $250-750

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6 FINE MULTI COLOR GLASS OVERLAY SNUFF BOTTLE China, early to mid-19th century. Deer, crane and bat amongst floral blossoming landscape in four colors of blue, red, green, and amber overlay on semi-transparent milky white glass; a smoky quartz topper tastefully blends. 2.25” height $400-800 7 AN UNUSUAL ‘CINNABAR’ OVERLAY GLASS RABBIT SNUFF BOTTLE Mid-19th century, glass. Rare bell form, with rabbit (hare) frolicking amongst blossoming stems, having a coral finial to spinach glass stopper with vinyl collar. The footing and applique of glass mimic red lacquer. 3.3” height $250-500

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8 BLACK ON BLUE CARVED GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE China, mid-19th to early 20th century, glass. A domed ivory stopper with ebonized collar to round-bodied vessel of black blossoming branches on bright blue glass. 2.6” height $200-600 9 RED OVERLAY SNOWSTORM GLASS DEER AND BAT SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, glass. Ruby overlay depiction of deer, crane, and bat with flanking ringed mask shoulders, recessed oval footing, and emerald green glass stopper. 3.1” bottle height $100-300

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12 RED SPLASH WHITE GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE China, 18th- early 19th century, glass. Extremely well-hollowed compressed rounded form of semi-transparent milky white glass suffused with brilliant red splashes, and possibly Imperial Glassworks; glass dome stopper.

See similar bottle sold Christie’s New York March 21, 2013 lot 1030 and Sotheby’s Billingshurst, June 25, 1991 lot 30, front cover. 2” height $500-1,000

10 WELL CARVED RED OVERLAY GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE China, mid-18th to mid-19th century, glass. The elegant bottle form of ruby overlay and finely carved with deer amongst fungi, while bat and crane fly overhead through pines, terminating on thoughtful graduating ring footing.

Likely Qianlong period. 3.3” height $400-700 11 THREE COLORFUL OVERLAY WHITE GLASS SNUFF BOTTLES China, Late Qing/Republic Period, single overlay of pink, green, and cobalt lightly applied and carved on white ground; the green double crane bottle having goldstone stopper and malachite collar, with huali stand. Taller: 3” height $250-500

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13 INSIDE PAINTED DOUBLE SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 18th- mid-19th century, glass.

Reverse painted with cranes in landscape and calligraphy, seal indiscernible; similar jade stoppers with ivory collars. 2.75” height $200-500 14

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14 RED OVERLAY GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE WITH STAND China, mid-19th century to early 20th century, glass. The central round medallion, well-carved ring handled masks, and ovular footing in ruby red on rock crystal mimic glass, rose quartz stopper. 2.15” bottle height $200-500

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15 PAIRING OF YELLOW OVERLAY GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE China, mid-19th to early 20th century.

The first bottle of flattened round form, milky glass with yellow butterflies and flora with stand; the second in true bottle form with sprawling vines, both with jadeite stoppers. Taller: 3” height $250-750 16 JET GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE China, mid-19th to early 20th century, glass. Jadeite stopper above handsome form of sloping shoulders conforming to body and elongated oval footing. 3” height $100-350

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17 BLUE OVERLAY SNOWFLAKE GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE China, mid-19th century, glass. The jarlet form bottle having everted rim, banded and beaded shoulders, svelte Chi dragon bodies carved, and lower petal border atop a flawless circle footing recessed.

The thoughtful stopper of red on yellow cased glass is crowned by ivory finial and finished in bone spooning. 2.8” height $350-750 18 INSIDE PAINTED BLUE OVERLAY GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE China, mid-19th- early 20th century, glass. The jade glass stopper rests flush on the blue band everted rim, concave neck, and undulating shoulder. The reverse painting of two ducks and chrysanthemum flanked by ringed mask handles are supported by a cut-through cobalt base footing; the underside marked with single center splash. 2.9” height $200-600 19 INTERIOR PAINTED AGATE GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, glass. Rust, sepia, and white coloration painted to interior of green glass bottle imitating agate; flattened stopper and footing. 2.8” height $50-150 20 PAIRING OF REVERSE PAINTED AMBER GLASS SNUFF BOTTLES China, late 19th- mid-20th century. One with rose quartz stopper and katydid motif to one side opposed by florals (3” height). The second with no stopper and rooster motif to one side opposed by a bird on branch (2.9” height). $200-600

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21 FINE AMBER GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE China, mid-19th century. The subtly brilliant and proud square bottle with the slightest tapering neck, body, and sides, extremely finely cut panels all around; high doming pale yellow ombre jade stopper mimics the translucency of the amber glass, gilt metal collar. 3.15” height $250-750 22 JADE GLASS AND HORN SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, glass. Imitating yellow jade bottle of tapering form, stepped and flattened oval base footing, carved horn stopper, likely rhinoceros. 3” height $100-500

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23 TRIO OF INSIDE PAINTED GLASS SNUFF BOTTLES China, late 19th- early-20th century, glass.

Skillful reverse painted bottles in red and yellow overlay together with a frosted glass bottle painted with landscape to one side and butterflies to reverse. 2.5” height $150-450 24 PAIRING REVERSE PAINTED GLASS SNUFF BOTTLES China, late Qing/early Republic Period. One with verso showing landscape with figure on bridge, the other with interior paint to four sides depicting a landscape with two figures walking in front of waterfall, and signed above well painted koi fish to side panel.

Taller: 3.8” height $100-400 25 LARGE COMPANION PEKING GLASS SNUFF BOTTLES China, Republic Period. Lotus decorated snuff bottles, one having cobalt decoration finely dimensioned on smooth white ground, the other with dusky decoration on white ground; similar wooden stands. Taller: 3.5” bottle height $200-600

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26 A FINE RELIEF CARVED ROCK CRYSTAL SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, crystal. Pebble form, natural crystal carved precisely and delicately to render blossoming cherry branches and pines; tiger’s eye stopper. 2.5” height $400-1,000

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27 FLORAL RELIEF ROCK CRYSTAL SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, mineral crystal.

Handsome, pawn form stopper conforming to floral carved body, together with finely carved stand. 2.3” height $50-250

28 EMBELLISHED ROCK CRYSTAL SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, mineral. A pair of abalone shell birds fly over a jade and turquoise bamboo stalk, carnelian and goldstone peach blossoms, and opal rock mass; together with stand. 2.8” bottle height $750-1,500

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29 EMBELLISHED SPINACH JADE SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 19th- early 20th century, dark green nephrite. Possibly Japanese embellished with goldstone, gold vermeil, ruby, emerald, opal and abalone, terminating in recessed footing; malachite, ring collared stopper. 2.7” height $500-1,000 29

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30 A RARE JAPANESE EMBELLISHED CHINESE JADE SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 18th to mid-19th century, jadeite. The exquisite earlier bottle (Chinese Hetian Jade) with later Japanese embellishments; “manner of” and very likely Tsuda Family, Kyoto, Japan, 1920-1940. Coral, ivory, opal, and gilt enamel highlight scene of figures under peach tree with cockatoo bird. The opposing side having a female figure gazing into a moonstone sphere. 2.6” bottle height $1,500-3,500 31 DRAGON CARVED OPAL SNUFF China, 19th century. Carved raw and natural opal still in its host rock as bottle, dragon amongst clouds, with pale jade stopper. 2.4” height $150-450 32 CARVED WHITE OPAL SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, natural opal. A bird and floral sprig wrap around bottle with matching stopper to comprise a sculptural form with fiery opalescence. 2.3” height $150-450 33 CHINESE CARVED OPAL SNUFF BOTTLE China, mid-19th to early 20th century, opal. The saturated color vessel of carved koi and lotus pond to one side of bottle, a bird to the opposing; jadeite stopper, bone spoon, together with stand. 2.2” bottle height $100-400

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34 ORGANIC SHELL CARVED CHI DRAGON SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, shell. Eggplant form incised with bat and mushroom (lingzhi) motifs to underside with finely carved hydra dragon atop; gourd stem form coral stopper. 3” height $200-500 35 UNUSUAL ABALONE SNUFF BOTTLE China, early 20th century, mother-of-pearl shell. Incised decorations throughout the winged bell form. 2.25” height $50-150

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36 DIMINUTIVE HEXAGONAL LAC BURGAUTE SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, lacquer and abalone. The tapering panel bottle having exquisite diapering and main panels of dragonflies above floral blossoms, with wooden stand. 2.1” bottle height $100-350 37 MOTHER OF PEARL OVERLAY SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 19th- early 20th century, organic material. White agate stopper with horn collar above lac burgaute inset neck, mosaic body of abalone applique carved in peony form; Qianlong reign mark to underside.

Literature: see extremely similar bottle in A Glossary of Chinese Snuff Bottle Rebus, by Raymond Li, pg. 31 fig. 61, published by Nine Dragons 1976. 2.75” height $200-600

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38 CHINESE CARVED CORAL SCULPTURAL SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 19th- early 20th century. Buddhist lion form stopper atop tall and slender relief carved coral branching to floral carved base, with stand. 3” bottle height $350-750 39 RARE SQUIRREL CARVED RUTILATED QUARTZ SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, mineral. Squirrel motif carved with movement to lower portion of body, tiger’s eye stopper. 2.4” height $100-400

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40 TOURMALINE STRAW RUTILATED QUARTZ SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, crystal. Faux lion ringed mask handles flank the broad-shouldered body of the underrated mineral tapering to footing; jadeite stopper with brass collar and together with stand. 2.5” bottle height $100-350 41 RUTILATED QUARTZ CRYSTAL STOPPER SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 19th- early 20th century, quartz. Rock crystal stopper with lapis lazuli collar, hair straw form inclusions throughout vessel, together with stand. 2.6” bottle height $100-350

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42 SMOKY QUARTZ DOUBLE SNUFF BOTTLE China, mid-19th century. Clever bottle of smoky to chalky ombre in design, the carving depicting a crane under pine tree. The intentionally dichotomized stoppers of opal and amber juxtapose the bottles coloring. On wooden stand. 2.75” bottle height $200-600

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43 CARVED SMOKY QUARTZ SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, quartz. Finely carved child atop foo lion in relief; jasper stopper, recessed footing to the quintessential and elegant form. 2.5” height $200-500

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44 HEAVILY CARVED QUARTZ SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 19th- early 20th century. The honey-colored vessel pierced and carved with flanking paradise fly catchers on blossoming branches, concave underside.

3.2” height $150-400

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45 LARGE ROCK CRYSTAL QILIN AND MAGPIE SNUFF BOTTLE Chinese, late 19th-early 20th century. Qilin and magpie motifs in high relief, mounted to lacquered wood stand. 4” bottle height $150-450

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46 CHINESE CARNELIAN CARVED SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 19th- early 20th century, carnelian. Floral motif carved to all sides; together with stand. 2.2” bottle height $50-200

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47 CARNELIAN CARVED KOI FISH SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 19th- early 20th century. Coral stopper to well carved and ombre tone fish form leaping from well carved waves; together with wood stand. 3.25” bottle height $100-400

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48 PALE AGATE FISH SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 19th- early 20th century. Russet highlights, apple green stopper mimics bubble, finely carved. 2.5” length $200-500

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49 AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, agate. Repetitive striations to stoutly rounded handsome vessel; high coral and malachite-collared stopper. 3.15” height $100-400

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50 FLECKED AGATE DRAGON SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 19th- early 20th century. Carved all around with water dragon wrapping to both sides, together with stand. 2.6” bottle height $100-350 51 AGATE PEBBLE SNUFF BOTTLE China, early 20th century. Naturalistic smooth pebble form, well-hollowed, with goldstone stopper. 2.6” height $100-350 50

52 CHINESE CAMEO AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century. Carnelian stopper, jade collar rests flush to mouth above russet-skinned body with relief carving of figures and oxen in landscape. 3.1” height $350-750

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53 HORSE CAMEO AGATE AND TOURMALINE SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, agate. Overlay in russet color of horse tied to post, thick oval footing recessed, tourmaline dome stopper. 2.75” height $350-750 51

54 WELL-CARVED SMOKY QUARTZ CAMEO SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, dark quartz. Pale skin carved with relief of birds on branches; white jade stopper with silver hallmarked collar. 3.6” height $350-750

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55 CHINESE CARVED SHADOW AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century. Jadeite stopper, hornbill collar, above slight relief carving of two magpies on branches utilizing the coloration of inclusions, oval recessed footing. 3” height $400-800 52

56 COMPANION SHADOW AGATE SNUFF BOTTLES China, 19th century, agate. Similar rounded forms with ringed mask handles to shoulders, coral and rose quartz stoppers, and conforming recessed footing. 2.5” height $150-550 57 BAT CAULDRON SHADOW AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, agate. One side depicting trees under moon, cloud of scattering bats to opposing, ovular based footing, gilt metal, wirework stopper. 2.5” height $500-1,000

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64 PARADISE FLYCATCHER JADE SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 19th century, pale jade with apple green highlights. Bird form, finial dome stopper matching stone vessel of relief carved paradise flycatchers under tree branches. 3.25” height $250-750

58 SHADOW CHALCEDONY SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century. The rectangular block form of beveled panels, tiered and recessed footing, wooden stand. 2.5” bottle height $100-350

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59 CHINESE FOSSILIFEROUS SNUFF BOTTLE China, early 20th century. Jadeite stopper to top of flattened form, visually noisy body. 2.3” height $50-150

65 PALE LAVENDER JADE SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 18th- mid-19th century, jadeite. Apple green and white hues throughout lavender hue bottle carved with side wall panels on solid oval base footing; rose quartz domed stopper.

2.5” height $500-1,500

60 FOSSILIFEROUS TURRITELLA AGATE CARVED SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, agate. Carved in relief of crane and fungi under pine tree, recessed ovular footing, mossy agate stopper.

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61 CHINESE JASPER SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, jasper. Jade stopper to classical form, jasper bodied vessel on even flattened footing. 2.4” height $100-300 62 JUJUBE AND PEANUT CARVED RUSSET SKINNED WHITE JADE SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, jade. Gourd form, spinach stopper to pale body having russet skin carvings of jujube and peanut; with later stand. 1.75” bottle height $1,000-3,000 63 SUPERB BAT AND PEANUT JADE PEBBLE SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, pale white jade. Russet skinned peanut decorated to flattened pebble form, the opposing sized carved with russet skinned bat and incised lingzhi cloud formation; enameled silver vine stopper, and together with stand. 3.25” bottle height $1,000-3,000

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66 A FINE WHITE JADE SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 18th- mid-19th century, nephrite.

Flanking ringed mask handles well-pronounced and finely carved, recessed rectangular footing with rounded corners, apple jade stopper with metal collar and bone spooning. 3” height $500-2,500

69 AN ELEGANT PALE YELLOW JADE SNUFF BOTTLE China, mid-19th- early 20th century. A rare, tall and lithe pin form bottle having incised border line at footing, with rose quartz stopper. 3.75” height $250-750

67 CARVED APPLE JADE RUSSET SKINNED SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 19th- early 20th century. Slight russeting to carved far side wall depicting a scholar under pines, goldstone collared jade stopper. 3” height $350-850

70 SUZHOU SCHOOL CANINE CARVED BLACKISH JADE SNUFF BOTTLE China, mid-19th- early 20th century. Spinach skin with carved dog in relief and pale background to one side, the opposing of a singular blossoming stem, recessed oval footing, with dark green glass stopper. 2.6” height $350-850

68 CHINESE BUTTERFLY AND GOURD JADE SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, jade. Pierced and carved scrolling tendril under butterflies to opposing sides of gourd form in pale white jade with spinach skin; with gilt metal collared, natural coral stopper. 3.1” height $400-1,200

71 CHINESE WHITE JADE “OPEN” SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 18th- 19th century. One side with birds carved in relief, the other side carved with character for open, jasper stopper. 2.4” height $250-750

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72 CORAL AND TURQUOISE MOUNTED CARVED JADE SNUFF BOTTLE Likely autonomous China, midto late 19th century. Unusual rounded inverted fungi form base, bowing and fitted to the stand. The pale vessel having metal mounts inset with coral and turquoise, carved in subtle relief with horse under tree.

3.2” bottle height $350-850

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73 SHOU SYMBOL SILVER OVERLAY SNUFF BOTTLE China, mid-19th- early 20th century. Apple green jade stopper in metal mounted collar, resting in glass bottle covered with scrolling silver wirework and silver banded footing. 3” height $150-350 74 ZHUANSHU SCRIPT SILVER SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, silvered metal. Domed seal script stopper above matching bottle of squatted and rounded form, having script to both sides.

3.25” height $150-350

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75 TIBETAN INFLUENCED SILVER SNAKE AND DRAGON SNUFF BOTTLE China, autonomous region, late 19th- early 20th century, silvered metal.

Double masks to shoulders, snake to stopper, dragon forms to opposing sides, and recessed footing. 2.75” height $100-250

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76 COMPANION MONGOLIAN INFLUENCE HORN SNUFF BOTTLE PAIRING Southeast Asia, late 19th- early 20th century. Horn vessels mounted with silver; one inset with turquoise and coral, the other with raw ruby, chain-linked stoppers. 3.2” height $50-250

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77 A FINE MONGOLIAN INFLUENCED MALACHITE AND CORAL INSET SNUFF BOTTLE Likely autonomous China, 19th century. The finely executed vessel in true bottle form, silver incised with scrolling lotus vines and inset with coral beads and malachite slabs to elongated neck, terminating on raised, circular, and recessed footing. 3.8” height $300-800 78

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78 TIBETAN SILVER MOON FLASK SNUFF BOTTLE China autonomous region, late 19th- early 20th century. Turquoise inset to opposing sides, one raw and the other rounded, articulating rings to mask handles; hallmarked to underside. 2.1” height $50-200

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79 JADE ARCHERS RING SILVER MOUNTED SNUFF BOTTLE China autonomous region, late 19th century. Turquoise and coral insets to opposing shoulders, under neck of inverted fungi form, the base and stopper also coral and turquoise inset, with stand. 3” bottle height $150-450

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80 ENAMELED METAL DOUBLE JADE ARCHERS RING SNUFF BOTTLE China, autonomous region, late 19th- early 20th century. Gilt metal, enamel mounted gingko leaf design, with stand. 4” bottle height $150-450

86 CHINESE DAOGUANG MARK RED LACQUER SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, cinnabar-red lacquer. Asymmetrical stopper placement atop graduating square body carved with figures in mountainous landscape setting, raised on rectangular brass footing; the underside with Daoguang mark in Zhuanshu script (not of the period).

2.25” height $50-100

81 ENAMELED SILVER AND JADE SNUFF BOTTLE China, autonomous region, late 19th- early 20th century. Archers ring mounted with neck and base enamel-decorated throughout. 3.1” height $50-350

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82 SINO-TIBETAN SILVER MOUNTED IVORY SNUFF BOTTLE China, autonomous region, late 19th- early 20th century. Cabochon turquoise stones embellish a silver mounted body of carved ivory, raised on slight footing. 4.5” height $50-150

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87 RED LACQUER BOX FORM SNUFF BOTTLE China, early 20th century, cinnabar-red lacquer. Abalone embellished floral blossom to center of relief-carved diapering surrounded by meandering key pattern, together with conforming stand.

2.25” bottle height $50-250

83 SILVER MOUNTED RED LACQUER SNUFF BOTTLE China, autonomous region, late 19th- early 20th century. Cabochon turquoise stones embellish the silver-mounted vessel having carved cinnabar red lacquer body, raised on slight footing. 4.25” height $50-250 81

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84 ENAMELED MEDALLION RED LACQUER SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 19th- early 20th century, cinnabar-red lacquer. Central, round, painted porcelain plaques rendering female musicians to dragon and archaic pattern vessel; four-character Qianlong mark to underside in Zhuanshu script. 2.5” height $50-350 85 DOUBLE GOURD RED LACQUER SNUFF BOTTLE China, early 20th century, lacquer. Two fish motifs to top gourd, the lower having landscape image, brass, metal bound footing and mouth, together with stand. 2.75” bottle height $50-350

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88 UNUSUAL DOUBLE MONKEY SNUFF BOTTLE Likely China, late 19th- early 20th century. Turquoise-infused lacquer, abalone decoration of embracing monkeys to one side and elephant to verso, possibly early Art Deco. 2.8” height $100-400

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89 PAIRING OF CLOISONNE SNUFF BOTTLES China, late 19th- early 20th century, enameled metal.

Cafe au lait color dragon phoenix bottle and a yellow ground landscape bottle having diamond pattern sides and stopper enameled to mimic chrysanthemum, both similarly sized and with recessed oval footing. 2.25” height $150-450 90 RARE DOUBLE FISH CLOISONNE SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, enameled copper. Fine and thin wirework to double-fish form having bird and floral panels, lotus walls, and with stand. 2.75” bottle height $100-300 91

91 LARGE CHINESE CARVED ROOT AMBER SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century. The bottle of thoughtful form having to one side a milky-honey emulsification, and a solid brown amber side opposing. The stout neck over broad shoulders having fine lion with ring mask relief carving; the rose quartz stopper with red lacquer collar and bone spooning. 3.5” height $500-1,000 92 AMBER MONKEY AND BIRD SNUFF BOTTLE China, mid-19th- early 20th century, dark, raw amber.

Jade stopper with organic, ringed collar inset to animalcarving decorated bottle. 2.5” height $100-400

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95 TRIO OF DIMINUTIVE LAPIS LAZULI SNUFF BOTTLES China, 19th century, lapis.

Carved water dragon, butterfly, and gift bearer bottles.

Largest: 2.1” height $250-750

93 A RARE AGGREGATE SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, agate formation in the cavity of petrified wood, and with opal inclusion. A young male figure cradling fish, carved from petrification to one side with natural and beautiful agate to opposite; the shoulder with a lovely iridescent opal inclusion, with matching stopper.

2.5” height $250-750

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94 WELL-CARVED LABRADORITE SNUFF BOTTLE China, mid-19th- early 20th century. Amethyst stopper collared with malachite inserts to high-shouldered, tapering wall bottle finely carved with birds in pines. 2.75” height $50-300 90

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96 ARCHAIC CARVED RAW LAPIS LAZULI SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 18th- mid-19th century, lapis. The tall, tapering, double-sided body carved with archaic forms, together with stand. 3.3” bottle height $100-350 97 LAPIS LAZULI CARVED SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, lapis. Horn collared, carnelian stopper to compressed, rounded form carved with clouds over landscape. 3” height $100-400 96

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98 BLACK AND WHITE JASPER BOULDER SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 19th- early 20th century, jasper. Black striations through the chalky white stone, highlighted by flashes of apple green, matching stopper, and round, flattened base footing. 2.4” height $50-200 99 PURSUIT OF PLUM MALACHITE DOUBLE CARVED CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 19th- early 20th century. Jadeite stopper with onyx collar, travelers in pursuit of plum carved to both sides, together with stand. Based on famous Three Kingdoms tales of the Ju-Gur Liang hermitage. 2.5” bottle height $100-400

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100 AMETHYST SNUFF BOTTLE China, early 20th century. Carved wrap-around floral stem motif, with stand. 2.25” bottle height $50-150

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101 CARVED ROSE QUARTZ SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 19th- early 20th century, quartz. Compressed, rounded form carved in subtle relief, finely formed stopper, together with stand. 2.25” bottle height $50-150

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102 CHINESE CHI DRAGON CARVED GOLDSTONE SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 19th- early 20th century. Tiger’s eye stopper to vessel, with elongated neck carved with a climbing, feline dragon to true bottle form, on slightly-raised ring footing. 2.5” height $50-250

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103 TWO HARDSTONE DOUBLE CARVED SNUFF BOTTLES China, late 19th- mid-20th century. Jade imitations in more common stones, possibly Cultural Revolution tourist trade, burgeoning Chinese material culture. 2.6” height $50-250

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104 QIANLONG ERA SQUARE AND MOLDED SNUFF BOTTLE China, mid- to late 18th century, porcelain. An underglazed cobalt enamel depiction of farmers to a tall and square form with craquelure glaze, unglazed footing to underside. Carnelian stopper with detached bone spoon. 3.3“ height $200-500

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105 DAOGUANG ERA COBALT PEONY SNUFF BOTTLE China, mid-19th century, porcelain. Dotted neck above ovoid body, painted fully with peony and rock; unpainted and unglazed, recessed oval footing, jade stopper. 2.8” height $100-400

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106 CHINESE PORCELAIN CRANES SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, porcelain. The coral and metal stopper with bone spoon insert to finely formed cylindrical bottle painted with eighteen (18) cranes in enamel over glaze; the body tapering to unglazed, ring footing. 3.25” height $150-450

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107 DAOGUANG ERA TURQUOISE GLAZE DRAGON SNUFF BOTTLE China, mid-19th century, porcelain. Carnelian stopper flush to slight rim over thinning, banded neck, gradually sloping shoulders and black enameled dragon amongst clouds and pearl, unglazed ring footing. $150-450

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108 KANGXI MARK DRAGON SNUFF BOTTLE China, 18th century, porcelain. In jarlet form, with celadon covered stopper, four-character mark to underside. 2.8” height $350-750

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109 KANGXI ERA DRAGON SNUFF BOTTLE China, early to mid-18th century, porcelain. Finely painted, five-clawed dragon in underglaze blue enamel to cylindrical body, carnelian stopper. 3.3” height $150-550

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110 QING DYNASTY DRAGON SNUFF BOTTLE China, mid-19th century, porcelain. Daoguang era, rust colored dragon with gilt highlights under gold banded neck and jadeite stopper; unglazed ring footing. 3.25” height $100-300

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111 CHINESE IRON DRAGON SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, porcelain. The unusual pierced metal (possibly iron) crown form stopper above a rolled lip and short neck conforming to cylindrical form bottle, tapering to unglazed footing, four-character reign mark to underside. 3.2” height $50-200

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112 QING DYNASTY CRACKLE GLAZE SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, porcelain. Coral stopper ringed with jade collar, inserting to well formed vessel with broad flaring shoulders enameled with two figures in underglaze blue with crackle glaze background, unglazed, ringed recessed footing. 3.3” height $150-550

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113 GUANGXU MARK AND PERIOD DOUBLE BARREL SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 19th- early 20th century, porcelain. Conjoined bottles having underglaze blue enamel of bats and waves to one barrel, prominent shou mark and birds and florals to the other, with wooden stand. 3.5” bottle height $100-300 116

114 TRIO OF ENAMELED PORCELAIN ARTIST SNUFF BOTTLES China, late 19th- early 20th century. Molded and painted example together with two Guangxu enamel overglaze examples, four-character marks to undersides. Tallest: 3” height $150-550

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115 FIVE CARAT RUBY STOPPERED SNUFF BOTTLE China, mid-19th century, porcelain. Bright and clear blue landscape under orange peel glaze, unglazed recessed ovular footing; likely Tongzhi period. 3.8” height $250-650

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116 CHENGHUA HOMAGE SNUFF BOTTLE China, 18th century, porcelain. Cobalt blue underglaze with iron red highlight coloring, four-character Chenghua mark indicates past reign, but not of the period, possibly Yongzheng. 3.6” height $100-400 114

117 SCHOLAR IN LANDSCAPE PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 19th- early 20th century, Goldstone stopper flush to mouth, banded at top of neck, the body with Buddhist figure. 3.2” height $100-300 118 LU DONGBIN AND SNAKE PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 19th- early 20th century. Slightly tapered neck above curved shoulders to squared body, painted with leader of Eight Immortals to one side and a snake to other, with calligraphy poem about passage of time; amber glass stopper and wooden stand. 3.1” bottle height $50-350

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119 HIGH RELIEF CHINESE MOLDED AND ENAMELED SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, porcelain. Warring scene with elephants, tigers, and mythical beasts, figures in landscape; eyeball agate stopper flush to slightly everted rim, with wooden stand. 3” bottle height $50-350 www.SELKIRKAUCTIONS.com • 17

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120 YELLOW GLAZE DOUBLE-SIDED PORCELAIN ENAMEL SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 19th- early 20th century. Flattened form having yellow ground with vines and double sided painted portrait, picturing Yongle, four-character, iron red marks to underside. 2.8” height $100-400

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121 YELLOW GLAZE PORCELAIN LOTUS SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 19th- early 20th century. Molded, ringed mask handles to shoulders, scrolling vines to body, central lotus, and recessed footing with four-character Guangxu mark. 2.7” height $50-350

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122 RETICULATED YELLOW GLAZE SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, porcelain. An unusual blue goldstone stopper to reticulated porcelain body, on wooden stand. 2.6” bottle height $100-350

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123 CHINESE SHORT SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, porcelain. Depicting a fisherman in a landscape, deep blue goldstone stopper. 2” height $50-350

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124 TAOIST PORCELAIN AND CORAL SNUFF BOTTLE China, mid-18th-19th century, porcelain. Taoist symbols to all sides. 2.6” height $50-250 125 1972 MOLDED CULTURAL REVOLUTION ERA SNUFF BOTTLE China, third quarter 20th century, porcelain. Molded, controversial national leaders Richard Nixon and Chairman Mao depicted with calligraphy notation. 2.75” height $50-200

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126 DOUBLE MOSSY AGATE PLAQUE SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, vegetable-dyed ivory. Beveled panels to ivory vessel, cabochon coral to top center of bottle, recessed oval footing with incised marking. 3.1” height $150-450

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127 CARVED IVORY SNUFF BOTTLE QING DYNASTY China, 19th century, ivory. Ball form finial to lotus petal stopper inserting to elongated vessel, carved in relief with a female beauty and attendant meeting scholar and attendant. 3” height $100-300 123 18 • SELKIRK • Up to Snuff: Rubin Family Chinese Snuff Bottles • October 15, 2021

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128 FINE AND RARE LACQUERED IVORY SNUFF BOTTLE China, 18th century. Black and red fungi pattern to matching stopper inserting to coin banded neck, flattened shoulders, and slightly tapering body lacquered to mimic tortoise shell, incised with deer and figures under pines and blossoming branches; four-character Zhuanshu mark to underside and of the period. 3” height $1,000-3,000 129 PU XIAN ENAMELED IVORY SNUFF BOTTLE PAIR China, late 19th- mid-19th century. The heads of female figures as stoppers, riding atop elephant and horse. 3” height $250-750

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130 CARVED IVORY DRAGON AND POEM SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century. Masterfully incised poem by Wang Wei to one side and the other carved with dragon amongst clouds in relief panel, stepped and recessed oval footing, pawn form stopper. 3” height $200-500 131 INCISED IVORY SNUFF AND TOBACCO JARLET China, 19th century. Images of the Eight Immortals incised all around cylindrical cannister having horn ringed rim, carved wooden stand. 3.8” bottle height $150-450

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132 CHINESE CARVED HORNBILL SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century. Jade stopper, vinyl collar above carved vessel flanked by red color Chi dragons, together with stand. 2.5” bottle height $350-850

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133 INCISED HORNBILL SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 18th- mid-19th century. Incised with blossomed floral stems, stepped and flattened footing. 2.2” height $100-450

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134 CHINESE INCISED TORTOISE SHELL SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, shell. Gold collared, jade stopper inserting to vessel with bamboo incisions. 2.3” height $100-300 135 CHINESE FINELY CARVED GUAN YU WOOD SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19th century, wood. Shield form panels depicting the deity of War to one side and a working court full of activity to opposite; carved foo dog stopper and finely-worked shovel spooning. 2.75” height $100-400

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136 A RARE 14K GOLD SNUFF BOTTLE China, late 18th- mid-19th century, gold. Lapis lazuli stopper with elongated spooning inserts to undulating collar, inserting to handled vessel finely incised with cranes and magpies to opposing sides, ovular recessed footing. 2.5” height (weighing 38 grams / 1.34 ounces) $750-1,500

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137 TWO PORCELAIN COLORED GLAZE SNUFF BOTTLES China, 19th century. Cobalt handled bottle with jade stopper and vinyl collar, together with a beautiful phosphorous Junware style turquoise-mimic glaze bottle with carnelian stopper.

Taller: 2.4” height $50-250 138 COLLECTION OF SIX DIMINUTIVE SNUFF BOTTLES China, mid-19th- early 20th century. Consisting of a pair of cobalt underglaze porcelain bottles with tiger’s eye stoppers; a silver-hinged, turquoise-paneled bottle with coral stoppers; a shell incised bottle with jade stopper and gilt collar; an onyx bottle with carnelian stopper; and a rare, double-barrel Qianlong seal mark lotus bottle with Shou characters in iron red underglaze and having rose quartz stoppers. Tallest: 2.4” height $250-750

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139 SIX DIMINUTIVE CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES China, 19th- early 20th century. Consisting of one carnelian bottle with malachite stopper; an incised coral, teal glaze porcelain bottle with bats; a double handled malachite bottle; a Chi dragon turquoise bottle with stand; and a reliefcarved bird turquoise bottle with coral pawn stopper.

Literature: the teal glaze coarsely granulated bottle described in illustration Old Chinese Snuff Bottles, pg. 73 Tallest: 2.1” height $250-750

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140 THREE FAUX IVORY SNUFF BOTTLES China, mid-20th century, celluloid and composite material. Buddha form, relief form pressed molding having figures in court landscape.

Tallest: 3.5” height $50-150 141 PAIR OF CHINOISERIE CABINETS Early to mid-20th century, dovetailed wood (likely camphor) construction. The matching pair with carved shell influenced crest, side locking (original skeleton key), hinged glass doors. Both: 33.5” height, 20” width, 3.25” depth $300-700 142 CHINOISERIE CABINET Early to mid 20th century, dovetailed wood (likely camphor) construction. The matching pair with carved shell influenced crest, side locking (original skeleton key), hinged glass doors.

33.5” height, 20” width, 3.25” depth $100-300

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