Bonhams Realizes A$170,453 in The Pitt Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles Auction

In a sale that closed on 23 September 2026, Bonhams presented a specialized single-owner auction of Chinese snuff bottles. The auction, titled The Pitt Collection of Chinese snuff bottles, realized a total of A$170,453^[1], with 155 of 155 lots sold, representing a 100% sell-through^[1] rate. Bonhams published the official results page confirming these totals. The collection showcased a diverse range of materials, including jade, glass, and rock crystal, representing the intricate craftsmanship of Qing dynasty artisans and twentieth-century masters.

Among the notable objects in the sale was an inside-painted agate bottle signed by Wang Xisan, which features a landscape design painted in 1974. The bottle itself dates to the 19th century and measures 5.5cm high without its stopper. Another prominent lot was an inside-painted rock crystal bottle signed by Dong Xue, which depicts the "Return of HK" and was acquired from Arts of China in Hong Kong on 8 April 1988. Additionally, a faceted green glass bottle, attributed to the Palace Workshop in Beijing and bearing a Daoguang four-character wheel-cut mark, was acquired from Jade House in Hong Kong on 13 September 1996. The sale also featured a white jade bottle carved as a woven basket, a decorative motif that derives from the traditional practice of protecting large vessels with woven rattan or bamboo casings, which was previously sold at Sotheby's Melbourne on 13 November 1985.

The complete clearance of all 155 lots in the Pitt Collection highlights the sustained interest in well-provenanced Chinese snuff bottles. The objects offered in this sale represented a broad spectrum of materials, from traditional jade and glass to more unusual substances like mammoth tooth, reflecting the deep collecting history of the estate.