Christie's has announced a sale of fine and rare snuff bottles from a private American collection on October 7 in Hong Kong, starring an enamel example from the Qianlong Emperor.
 Snuff bottles were extremely popular with China's elite as a display of wealth |
The small containers designed for holding snuff were extremely popular with the Chinese elite in the 18th and 19th century, acting as a portable vanity item and display of wealth.
The top lot is a double-gourd-shaped famille rose enamelled piece, complete with a Qianlong mark of the period. It is estimated to sell for $500,000-625,000. It is joined by an identically estimated glass double-gourd snuff bottle from the Qianlong Emperor.
A striking black and white jade snuff bottle form the Qing Dynasty (18th-19th century) is valued at $250,00-375,000.
Further highlights include a fine and rare white jade snuff bottle shaped like an eggplant, which includes its original stopper and dates to the Qing dynasty. It is valued at $75,000-112,500.
The auction comes amid the Hong Kong Autumn sale season, with the top auction houses all presenting a number of auctions to the ever-expanding collector base in China. See what exciting sales Sotheby's has in store.
With first half results announced for both auction houses, Christie's and Sotheby's will be vying for the majority share in Asian sales for the second half of the year.
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