A flawless collection of rare Chinese snuff bottles from the Mary and George Bloch collection will be the centre of attention at Bonhams' 2011 Spring Auctions next week.
Sales of Part I and Part II of the collection last year were a resounding success as every snuff bottle was sold for record-breaking sums in 11 categories.
With the demand for Chinese treasures seemingly insatiable, the sale of Part III is eagerly awaited as 142 snuff bottles, worth up to HK$50 million, become available.
No collection formed in the modern era can rival that of the Blochs, who bought 1,720 snuff bottles from international dealers from 1983 onwards.
The collection showcases Chinese workmanship across three centuries.
Sure to attract attention from collectors and investors is lot 141, a gold-ground, famille-rose enamelled copper European-subject snuff bottle. This extremely rare piece was produced by Imperial artisans in the Forbidden City during the late Qianlong period.