A RUBY-RED OVERLAY GLASS ‘CARP’ SNUFF BOTTLE, 1760-1840 China. Of long oval shape, the transparent overlay in ruby-red carved as a jumping carp in pursuit of a pearl, wrapping around the flattened foot of the bottle, reserved on a clear pink bubble suffused ground.

Provenance: From an English private collection.
Condition: Good condition with some wear, light surface scratches, little nibbling to the mouth, small chips to stopper, neck, and relief.

Stopper: Dark blue hardstone stopper
Weight: 59 g
Dimensions: Height including stopper 72 mm. Diameter neck 14 mm and mouth 7 mm.

The bold conception of this overlay glass bottle is impressive, and is a variation on the design of the 'Carp leaping through Dragon Gate', which alludes to the attainment of rank and fulfillment of one's ambitions, as when the carp transforms into the dragon according to legend.

Literature comparison: Compare a similar bottle in the Marian Meyer Collection with the same type of elongated glass snuff bottle with a red overlay fish wrapped around the foot, with the only difference being that this one spouts a pavillion from its mouth on one side, illustrated in Hall, Chinese Snuff Bottles II, London, 1989, no. 44. See also another bottle of similar shape and decoration but on clear ground from the Eric Young Collection sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 28 October 1993, lot 1031.

Auction result comparison: Compare also a related red overlay clear glass snuff bottle, attributed to the Beijing Palace Workshops, dated 1750-1790, at Sotheby’s New York in Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art on 31 March 2005, lot 359, sold for USD 4,320.

1760-1840年寶石紅套料鯉魚紋鼻烟壺
中國，橢圓形削肩，透明粉紅色地料器，寶石紅套料雕一條跳躍的鯉魚追逐一顆珍珠。

來源：英國私人收藏。
品相：狀況良好，有一些磨損，輕微的表面劃痕，唇部輕微磕損，壺蓋、頸部和浮雕上有小磕損。

壺蓋：深藍色石質
重量：59 克
尺寸：含壺蓋高72 毫米；頸部直徑14 毫米，唇部直徑7 毫米

拍賣結果比較：比較一件1750-1790年相近的紅色套料鼻烟壺，或爲北京御用工坊，見紐約蘇富比Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art 2005年3月31日 lot 359, 售價USD 4,320。