AN IMPERIAL 'CONFRONTED DRAGONS' GLASS IMITATING AQUAMARINE SNUFF BOTTLE Imperial, attributed to the Palace Workshops, Beijing, 1750-1800PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF KIM GREENAN IMPERIAL 'CONFRONTED DRAGONS' GLASS IMITATING AQUAMARINE SNUFF BOTTLEImperial, attributed to the Palace Workshops, Beijing, 1750-1800Of compressed, tapering shield shape, with a cylindrical neck and straightened lip, and standing on an oval footrim, the bottle of pale turquoise tone in imitation of aquamarine, each main side carved with a pair of stylized, confronted, archaistic dragons surrounding a central pearl, with original matching glass stopper. 2 1/4in (6cm) high1750-1800 仿藍晶料胎刻雙龍戯珠鼻煙壺一件御製 或爲北京宮廷作坊製Provenance:Acquired from 'Father Roth,' Chicago June 13, 1958 for $46.66 Avrina Pugh Collection no. 197 Sotheby's New York, April 1, 2005, lot 520Asian Art Studio, Inc. Kim Green collection no. 88This very well-carved glass bottle imitating aquamarine belongs to a group thought to be carved from a solid block of glass. This is indicated by the heavy weight in relation to the thicker walls and the interior surface of the glass which is slightly frosted where the interior has needed to be polished. The carver in this situation was able to make an intentional choice how smooth the interior surface should be, compare with a blown glass bottle which is not subject to the same treatment.