A LARGE ‘SEA-SPRAY’ AMETHYST SNUFF BOTTLE, 1750-1850

拍品描述

A LARGE ‘SEA-SPRAY’ AMETHYST SNUFF BOTTLE, 1750-1850 China. Very well hollowed, of compressed square form with rounded shoulders, concave lip and recessed oval foot surrounded by a foot rim, and the narrow sides crisply carved with lion mask-and-ring handles. The translucent stone is of pale purple color suffused with vapor-like inclusions. Stopper: Agate on a glass platelet, carved spoon Dimensions: Height including stopper 89 mm. Diameter neck 27 mm and mouth 8 mm. The present snuff bottle is crafted from crystalline quartz, here in a rich amethyst variety, which is occasionally found exhibiting a delicate network of markings reminiscent of cracked ice or sea spray. Such surface features are characteristic of this group of bottles and have been documented in comparable examples, including those catalogued by Moss, Graham, and Tsang in The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle: The J & J Collection, nos. 95 and 96. Reflecting the Chinese appreciation for natural materials, the so-called ‘flaws’ or inclusions in the quartz were embraced as part of the design. When filled with snuff, these natural features become more pronounced, transforming the bottle into an abstract composition in which the interplay of color, texture, and translucency enhances its aesthetic appeal. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related purple amethyst snuff bottle, dated 1750-1850, 5.4 cm tall, illustrated in Robert Hall, Chinese Snuff Bottles IV, London, 1991, p.21, no. 20. Compare a closely related amethyst snuff bottle, dated 1750-1860, 6.3 cm tall, illustrated in Clare Chu, Embers of the East: An Exhibition of Chinese Snuff Bottles from Selected Private Collections, 2024, p. 144, no. 133. Compare a closely related amethyst snuff bottle, dated 1760-1880, 6.2 cm tall, illustrated in Hugh M. Moss, The art of the Chinese snuff bottle: Vol.01, New York, 1993, p. 183, no. 102. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 19 September 2007, lot 678 Price: USD 21,250 or approx. EUR 30,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, material, and color. Note the size (5.7 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 24 March 2022, lot 878 Price: USD 7,560 or approx. EUR 7,700 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, material, and color. Note the size (6.2 cm).

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