AN INSCRIBED CAMEO AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE, OFFICIAL SCHOOL, QING DYNASTY

The translucent stone of a milky-blueish color with hues of amber-brown and a layer of russet, carved in high relief to form the design, good surface polish
China, 1760-1830

Carved and incised on one side utilizing the russet layer in the stone with a prancing horse ridden by a monkey under a pine tree. Four-character inscription reading “Horse” and “Wish” in relief within a banner-shaped frame.
A popular subject found on Official School bottles of the late 18th/early 19th century, a monkey riding a horse, forms a popular rebus expressing a wish for "Ma Shang Feng Hou", a "Promotion approaching fast".
With the present bottle, the carver has used the natural markings in the stone to full advantage and presented a powerful impression of three-dimensional depth, being distinguished especially by the rather unusual addition of the inscription, which appears to be a clever double entendre referring both to the “horse” and to the “wish” for promotion of the recipient.

Shape: Flattened square form with rounded shoulders
Hollowing: Excellent
Mouth, neck and lip: Short cylindric neck with convex top and slanted lip
Base: Rectangular base with raised foot rim and rounded corners
Design, marks, school: Official school
Stopper: Green and ochre nephrite, wooden platelet, ‘drawstring’ shaped spoon neatly carved of organic material
Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.5 cm.
Width of the mouth: 8 mm.
Width of the neck: 23 mm.
Weight: 111.5 grams
Condition: Excellent
Provenance: From a Beverly Hills, California, private estate, old collector number to base

Literature comparison: For a discussion of the Official School of hard-stone carving, see H. Moss, V. Graham, K. B. Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 2, Quartz, no. 258, and nos. 301-306 which are all from the same school and decorated with horses in a somewhat similar vein. An agate bottle of related design, but lacking the inscription, is illustrated by R. Kleiner, Chinese Snuff Bottles - The White Wings Collection, p. 180, no. 122.
Auction result comparison: J & J COLLECTION OF SNUFF BOTTLES, PART III. Christies, New York, 29 March 2006, lot 10. (for another inscribed cameo agate 'horse' snuff bottle)

官家工坊瑪瑙巧雕馬上封侯鼻烟壺，清代
半透明乳青色，蜜褐色帶皮処深浮雕，表面抛光良好
中國， 1760-1830

壺型：扁平方形，圓肩
掏膛：優秀
壺口、頸與唇部： 短直頸，壺口表面凸出，斜唇
底足：方底高圈足，圓角
造型、落款及流派： 官家工坊
壺蓋：綠色赭石色玉，木托片，束帶形有機材料小杓
壺高（含壺蓋）： 7.5 厘米
口徑： 8 毫米
壺頸寬：23 毫米
重量： 111.5 克
品相： 優秀
來源：加利福尼亞比佛利山私人產業，底部可見收藏家老標簽