A VERY FINE DENDRITIC AGATE 'FIGURES IN A MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPE' SNUFF BOTTLE, SUZHOU SCHOOL, 1790-1880

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A VERY FINE DENDRITIC AGATE 'FIGURES IN A MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPE' SNUFF BOTTLE, SUZHOU SCHOOL, 1790-1880 Expert remark: Both the auction comparison and the present bottle demonstrate the distinctive Suzhou School practice of integrating naturally occurring quartz formations, such as dendrites, mosses, plumes, and filaments, into the carved design. Compositions in which the imagery is largely dictated by the agate itself are considerably less common than traditional Suzhou cameo carvings. Owing to its complex inclusions, dendritic agate is among the most challenging materials to carve, requiring exceptional artistic vision and technical skill, and was therefore reserved for the most accomplished Suzhou lapidaries only. China. Well hollowed, of rounded rectangular form standing on an oval foot ring, with a cylindrical neck and a gently concave rim, carved with a continuous scene to depict a seated scholar ruefully musing as his attendant waits by the foot of a staircase leading to a small pavilion near a pine tree on the reverse, framed by tall imposing rockwork which cleverly incorporate the natural fern-like inclusions of iron and metallic oxides in the stone. Stopper: Coral carved with a raised chilong on a black vinyl collar; carved spoon Dimensions: Height including stopper 78 mm. Diameter neck 21 mm and mouth 7 mm. Literature comparison: Compare a related chalcedony snuff bottle with monkey on a rocky bank, dated 1750-1820, 5.6 cm tall, illustrated in Robert Kleiner, The Nordic butterfly collection of Chinese snuff bottles: Part II, Hong Kong, 2010, p. 89, no. 294 Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 28 November 2011, lot 11 Price: HKD 644,000 or approx. EUR 107,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling, and similar material and modeling of the seated scholar. Note the size (5.99 cm).

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