A SAPPHIRE-BLUE OVERLAY GLASS ‘CELESTIAL EYE’ SNUFF BOTTLE, 18TH-19TH CENTURY China. Of upright rectangular form with sloping shoulders standing on a well-finished oval foot ring, the front and back decorated with a celestial eye goldfish amid lotus carved from translucent sapphire-blue glass overlay, the body of transparent glass.

Provenance: British trade.
Condition: Good condition with minor nibbling to lip and base, some wear and light surface scratches, a little chip to the neck.

Stopper: Stopper of red colored organic material
Weight: 51 g
Dimensions: Height including stopper 90 mm. Diameter neck 13 mm and mouth 6 mm.

Celestial eye goldfish or Choutengan is a double-tailed breed of fancy goldfish that has a defining pair of telescope eyes which are turned upwards, pupils gazing skyward. Celestial eye goldfish in a pond were a popular motif during the Qing dynasty.

Auction result comparison: Compare a related sapphire-blue overlay glass ‘carp’ snuff bottle, dated 18^th-19^th century, at Christie’s New York, in Chinese Works of Art: Snuff Bottles & Books, on 29 July 2013, lot 6, sold for USD 2,500.

十八至十九世紀寶石藍套料荷塘魚戲鼻烟壺
中國。扁長形，削肩，橢圓形圈足，透明玻璃，兩面可見藍寶石玻璃描繪荷塘魚戯。

來源：英國古玩市場。
品相：狀況良好，唇部和底部有輕微磨損和表面劃痕，頸部有一點磕損。

壺蓋：紅色有機材料
重量：51 克
尺寸：含壺蓋高90 毫米，頸部直徑13 毫米，唇部直徑6 毫米

拍賣結果比較：比較一件十八至十九世紀相近寶石藍套料鯉魚紋鼻烟壺，見紐約佳士得Chinese Works of Art: Snuff Bottles & Books 2013年7月29日 lot 6, 售價USD 2,500。