A NATURAL GOURD SNUFF BOTTLE, 18th-19th CENTURY China. The dried, hollowed gourd finely polished and applied with silver at the neck, neatly incised in imitation of leaves. A naturally grown patina with an unctuous feel overall.

Provenance: From the collection of Dr. Erika Pohl-Ströher (1919-2016), thence by descent in the same family. Dr. Erika Pohl-Ströher was a German-born Swiss resident and heiress to the hair care and cosmetics company Wella AG. She was a passionate collector and had amassed in her lifetime various important art collections, as well as one of the world’s most valuable collections of gems and minerals.
Condition: Excellent condition with only minor old wear.

Stopper: Natural coral branch stopper
Weight: 7 g (!)
Dimensions: Height including stopper 85 mm. Diameter neck 7 mm and mouth 4 mm.

Gourds have been used since the earliest of times in many cultures as natural containers. Growing in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, the dried rind of the fruit becomes a very light, impervious container which, if the mouth is kept narrow, can be easily stoppered and made airtight.

Literature comparison: For an unadorned gourd snuff bottle in the Palace collection, see Snuff Bottles in the National Palace Museum, with an introduction by Chang Lin-sheng, Taipei, 1991, p. 270, no. 413.

Auction result comparison: Compare a related natural gourd snuff bottle, dated 1760-1860, at Christie’s New York in Important Chinese Snuff Bottles from the J & J Collection on 30 March 2005, lot 43, sold for USD 9,600. Compare also a related natural gourd snuff bottle, dated 1770-1880, at Christie’s New York in The Meriem Collection Important Chinese Snuff Bottles on 18 September 2007, lot 606, sold for USD 8,125.

十八至十九世紀天然葫蘆鼻烟壺
中國。曬乾並挖空的葫蘆經過打磨，並在頂部鍍銀，樹葉紋。自然包漿，整體感覺細膩。

來源：Erika Pohl-Ströher（1919-2016）博士收藏，保存於同一家族至今。Erika Pohl-Ströher博士是德國出生的瑞士人，是護髮和化妝品公司Wella AG的女繼承人。她是一位有熱誠的收藏家，一生中積累了許多重要的藝術收藏，以及世界上最有價值的寶石和礦石收藏之一。
品相：狀況極佳，輕微磨損。

壺蓋: 天然珊瑚
重量：7 克
尺寸：總85毫米；頸部直徑7 毫米；嘴部直徑4 毫米

拍賣結果比較：比較一件相近的天然葫蘆鼻烟壺，1760-1860年，見紐約佳士得 Important Chinese Snuff Bottles from the J & J Collection 2005年3月30日 lot 43, 售價USD 9,600；比較另一件天然葫蘆鼻烟壺，1770-1880年，見紐約佳士得The Meriem Collection Important Chinese Snuff Bottles 2007年9月18日 lot 606, 售價USD 8,125。