S20 A lapis lazuli “Taotie masks” snuff bottle

Description

Description:  Chinese lapis lazuli snuff bottle of very flat, spade form. It is carved with decorative bands around the body and a Taotie mask on either side. What is remarkable on this bottle is its perfect complete hollowing, despite the small thickness of the body, which is only 9.6 mm.

Foot/base:  Low protruded round foot and flat base

Mark:  

Dating:  18^th Century.

Material:  Lapis lazuli

Size:  63 mm high

Stopper:  Pink glass oval stopper with ivory spoon.

Provenance:  Mario Dalmazzo collection

References:

Notes:  About Mario Dalmazzo collection, see Provenance of the ceramic snuff bottle C8.