A SHADOW AGATE 'THREE PLAYFUL MONKEYS' SNUFF BOOTLE, QING DYNASTY

The stone of a semi-translucent, pale honey tone, with shades of amber tone, and a deep, opaque carneliancolored layer carved to form the depiction, shiny surface polish. China, 19th century

The main side skillfully carved to depict three monkeys using a rope to seesaw from the branch of a pine, the tree springing from solid rockwork. According to Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, Hong Kong, 1995, Vol. 2, pt. 2, Quartz, p. 346, the monkey was one of the most popular subjects for partly colored hardstone snuff bottles of the Official School.

Shape: Flattened spade shape
Hollowing: Excellent
Mouth, neck and lip: Short sprawling neck with slanted lip, convex top and small mouth
Base: Oval convex base
Design, marks, school: Possibly official school
Stopper: Serpentine on black platelet
Height of the bottle with stopper: 5.7 cm.
Width of the mouth: 5 mm.
Width of the neck: 17 mm.
Condition: Excellent
Provenance: Swedish private collection

Literature comparison: The Ruth and Carl Barron Collection of Fine Chinese Snuff Bottles: Part III. Christies, New York, September 14th, 2016, lot 582. (for another agate bottle with the 'three playful monkeys' subject) ASIAN ART. Bonhams, London, May 12th, 2014, lot 436. (for a very similar agate bottle, but with monkey on a horse) Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. Sotheby's, New York, March 19th, 2013, lot 381. (for another agate bottle with the 'three playful monkeys' subject)

清代瑪瑙"三猴戲耍"鼻烟壺
品相極好
瑞典私人收藏