A PEBBLE-FORM 'THUMBPRINT' AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY

Banded agate of natural pebble form with a good and smooth surface polish. China, 1750-1880

The greyish stone suffused with tight concentric rings in beige, various shades of grey and white, suggesting swirling clouds, lightly interspersed with tiny grey speckles on both shoulders. Pebble-form bottles in this material are relatively rare. The Chinese called this type of agate 'entwining-cocoon' agate, referring to silk cocoons. For further discussion please see Moss, Graham, Tsang, The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle, no. 114.

Shape: Pebble
Hollowing: Excellent
Mouth, neck and lip: Mouth succinct to pebble
Base: Flat oval, of somewhat irregular shape
Stopper: Coral cabochon carved and incised to depict the head of a crane, with old chiseled bronze mounting
Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.1 cm.
Width of the mouth: 6 mm.
Condition: Good, with some wear and several natural stress lines, almost not visible
Provenance: Old Austrian private collection, acquired before 1930, thence by descent

Literature comparison: Chinese Works of Art. Sotheby's, New York, March 23rd, 2004, lot 74. (for a very similar bottle) The Bentley Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles, The Asian Art Studio, Clare Chu, 2008, page 87. (for a bottle of the same material, but not in pebble shape) The Victoria and Albert Museum Collection, Helen White, Snuff Bottles from China, London, 1992, plate 58, lot 4. (for another bottle from this group, in pebble shape, carved in the form of a fruit) The Pamela Lessing Freidman Collection, Denver Art Museum, 1990, lot 39. (for another bottle from this group, not in pebble shape, carved with mock ring handles on the shoulders)

清代瑪瑙卵石形鼻烟壺
品相良好， 局部有磨損和几不可見的天然裂縫
奧地利私人老收藏，1930年前購入，家族傳承