Hetian White Jade Snuff Bottle with Openwork Chilong Interlocking Rings, Gold Lid Inlaid Turquoise, Qing Dynasty, 18th-19th Century

拍品描述

Dimensions: Maximum width 6.2 cm (2.44 inches), total height 10 cm (3.94 inches), total weight 175 grams, Qing Dynasty, 18th-19th century. Condition and Provenance: The Hetian white jade body is intact, with only a very shallow, minute crack on the oval base. There are no defects or major repairs. The jade exhibits a natural light yellow patina and a smooth surface. The openwork dragon carving and interlocking rings are intact, without any damage or repairs. It comes with an original gold-wire openwork lid decorated with regular square spiral patterns, topped with a complete natural turquoise cabochon gemstone, and accompanied by an original pure gold chain. No replacement parts were found. This jade snuff bottle circulated in Europe and America decades ago and is now in the collection of a private collector in Texas specializing in Ming and Qing Dynasty Hetian jade artifacts. Texas and Singapore were important global trading centers for jade artifacts during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Description: This Qing Dynasty Hetian white jade snuff bottle, decorated with openwork dragon motifs and featuring an original gold and turquoise lid, is a top-tier collectible from the imperial court and literati of the mid-to-late Qing Dynasty. It is entirely carved from superior natural Hetian white jade. The bottle has a full pear shape, resting on an oval, concave foot. The smooth, uncarved body highlights the soft, natural texture of the white jade, while the neck and shoulder are adorned with delicate spiral patterns. The sides of the bottle are intricately carved, featuring a coiled dragon that wraps around a freely movable jade ring. The exquisite openwork carving showcases the exceptional skills of ancient Chinese jade carvers. The bottle is fitted with a finely carved gold-wire lid, engraved with simple geometric spiral patterns and topped with a polished natural turquoise. It is connected to the jade ring by an original gold chain, the combination of jade and precious metals exuding elegance and luxury. The Hetian white jade, with its silky smooth texture, has naturally developed a pale yellow patina over hundreds of years, covered with a thick layer of soft, waxy luster—the result of generations of meticulous care. Snuff bottles are a unique traditional art form of the Qing Dynasty. This snuff bottle combines multiple exquisite techniques: solid jade carving, a movable openwork ring, gold wire work, and gemstone inlay. Well-preserved and complete with its original gold lid, such a piece is extremely rare worldwide. It possesses immense academic value, encompassing jade carving, ancient gold craftsmanship, and Qing Dynasty cultural customs, making it an ideal choice for a high-end independent display case in a jade museum and a coveted masterpiece in the international Ming and Qing jade collecting world.

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