A yellow glass snuff bottle, 1750-1800. Imperial, attributed to the Palace workshops, Beijing

A yellow glass snuff bottle, 1750-1800. Imperial, attributed to the Palace workshops, Beijing. photo courtesy Sotheby's

well molded and carved in the form of a mallow flower, the glass of a transparent rich yellow-amber color; height 1 7/8 in., 4.8 cm. Estimate 8,000—12,000 USD. Lot Sold 8,125 USD

PROVENANCE: Sotheby's London, 5th December 1983, lot 20.

NOTE: An identical glass bottle, but of a more amber tone, is illustrated in Rachelle R. Holden, Rivers and Mountains Far From the World, New York, 1994, pp. 64-65, no. 19, where the author notes that the 'mallow, or kui flower is the flower associated with the successful scholar.' Mallow flower bottles are known in a variety of colors; see a ruby-red glass example in The Crane Collection, www.thecranecollection.com, no. 462.

Sotheby's. The Joe Grimberg Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles, 14 Sep 10, New York www.sothebys.com