A CLOISONNé ‘CRICKET’ SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTYMassive metal body with silvered foot and neck, the multicolored cloisonné on ‘imperial’ blue ground with copper wiresChina, 18th – earlier 19th centuryEach side with a yellow ground square vignette depicting a cricket and cabbage on one side and butterfly and peonies on the reverse, surrounded by neatly executed lotus scrolling, all on an intense blue ground, above a lappet band at the base and below a ruyi band around the collar.It is impossible to confirm with certainty whether neck and base are original to this bottle or not, but it is this author’s firm opinion that they indeed are, because they fit both the form and the design of the bottle, including the cloisonné enamels, to absolute perfection.Shape: Square shape with rounded shouldersHollowing: StandardMouth, neck and lip: Cylindric neck with small mouthBase: Oval base with raised foot rimStopper: Good old mother of pearl stopper with stepped silver mountingHeight of the bottle with stopper: 7 cm.Width of the mouth: 6 mm.Width of the neck: 15 mm.Weight: 83.3 gramsCondition: Superb condition with wear as expected on an old bottle and numerous small air bubblesProvenance: American private collectionLiterature comparison: IMPORTANT CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE J&J COLLECTION. Christies, Hong Kong, 25 April 2004, lot 812. (compare the execution of the lotus with this bottle)景泰藍白菜蟈蟈鼻烟壺,清代厚重金屬胎,足部與頸部鍍銀,皇家藍地掐絲多彩琺琅中國, 十八世紀至十九世紀早期壺型:方形圓肩掏膛:規整壺口、頸與唇部:直筒頸,小口底足:橢圓底,高圈足壺蓋:銀嵌貝母壺高(含壺蓋):7 厘米口徑:6 毫米壺頸寬:15 毫米重量:83.3 克品相:不同凡響,年代痕跡,琺琅表面些微小氣泡