A CARNELIAN SNUFF BOTTLE, 1740 1840The well-hollowed bottle ingeniously carved and incised utilizing the translucent slate, orange, vermillion and purple markings in the stone with two intertwined celestial eye fish and a dragon.Provenance: A Hong Kong private collection. Sold at Wooley & Wallis, Salisbury, May 21st, 2008, lot 157. Austrian private collection.Condition: Perfect.Stopper: Jadeite cabochon with splashes of emerald green. Tiny old spoon.Weight: 36.8 grams.Dimensions: Height including stopper 62 mm. Diameter neck 11 mm and mouth 6 mm.Flattened spade shape, recessed oval base, small mouth.This bottle belongs to an interesting range of bottles mostly in agate or jade which are all inspired by the same idea of intertwined fish, using the natural markings in the material to considerable and inventive advantage. The group is discussed under no. 158 in Moss et. al., The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle, and in Hugh Moss, Chinese Snuff Bottles of the Silica or Quartz Group, nos. 214 and 215. Many of the bottles appear to be from the same lapidary. The present bottle is one of the more spectacular examples because of the ideal use of the lovely natural material with its variegated coloring.1740-1840紅玉髓鼻烟壺壺身掏膛極好。巧妙利用玉髓本身半透明質感與天然且深淺不一的肌理展現了一對大眼睛金魚與一隻龍。來源：香港私人收藏；2008年5月21日賣于Wooley & Wallis, Salisbury, 編號 157；奧地利私人收藏品相：完美瓶蓋：翡翠，老杓重量：36.8 克尺寸：含蓋總高62 毫米；頸部直徑11 毫米；嘴 6 毫米