A PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLE WITH UNFIRED COBALT DÉCOR, 1800-1850 China. Of cylindrical form with a straight neck and recessed base, the unglazed body decorated in raised unfired cobalt with a dragon chasing the flaming pearl above crashing waves, amid swirling clouds and flames, the neck with a band of stiff leaves, an artemisia leaf mark on the foot, also in unfired cobalt.

Provenance: From a UK private collection, acquired from Robert Kleiner & Co. Ltd., London. A copy of the original invoice dated 20 November 2000 and confirming the dating and description above accompanies this lot. Robert Kleiner (1948-2014) was an important expert on and dealer of Chinese snuff bottles, beginning his long career at Sotheby’s Chinese Art department in London. Along with Hugh Moss and Bob Hall, Robert Kleiner became a key advisor to the Mary and George Bloch collection, and it was Robert who wrote and produced the very first catalog of their bottles.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and firing irregularities, such as pitting and dark spots. A small chip to the stopper.

Stopper: Coral imitation with platelet and carved spoon
Weight: 17.1 g
Dimensions: Height including stopper 52 mm. Diameter neck 12 mm and mouth 6 mm.

Porcelain bottles of this miniature size are rare, and rarer still with decoration in unfired cobalt. This bottle represents one of the stages in the production of blue and white porcelain. After the design is painted on in cobalt (which is black), the bottle would usually be covered in a felspathic glaze and re-fired, the reaction between the materials turning the design blue, beneath a vitrified glaze. For an explanation of the technique see Moss, Graham and Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles the Mary and George Bloch Collection Vol 6 part 2, pages 652-653.

1800-1850年素燒鈷藍龍紋鼻烟壺
中國。直頸，圓柱形壺，底足内凹。素燒，鈷藍彩雲龍戲珠紋；頸部和肩部蕉葉紋；底足内樹葉款。

來源：英國私人收藏，購於倫敦Robert Kleiner & Co. Ltd.藝廊。隨附一份2000年11月20日開具的發票副本，確認了相關描述和斷代。Robert Kleiner (1948-2014) 是一位重要的中國鼻煙壺專家和古玩商，在倫敦蘇富比中國藝術部開始了他的職業生涯。Robert Kleiner與 Hugh Moss 和 Bob Hall 一起，成為 Mary 和 George Bloch 收藏的重要顧問，他編寫並製作了他們的第一個鼻烟壺目錄。
品相：狀況極好，有輕微磨損和燒製瑕疵，例如點蝕和黑點。壺蓋上有一個小開片。

壺蓋: 仿珊瑚，有托片，雕刻的小勺
重量：17.1 克
尺寸：含蓋高52 毫米；頸部直徑12 毫米 及口部直徑6 毫米