1730-1900

Details

THREE AMBER SNUFF BOTTLES
1730-1900
The first, 1740-1830, is of flattened, rounded square form and well hollowed to highlight the rich even tone of the material. The second, 1730-1870, is of rounded, rectangular form, and attractively mottled with an abstract pattern of reddish-brown and darker markings. The third, 1780-1900, is of cylindrical form and carved from orange-toned amber with smokey mottling.
1 7/8, 2 3/8, and 1 15/16 in. (4.8, 6.1, and 5 cm.) high, coral, ivory, and glass stopper (3)

Provenance

Rounded bottle:
Kaynes-Klitz Collection; Sotheby's Hong Kong, 16 November 1989, lot 216.
Rectangular bottle:
Lilla S. Perry Collection.
Edward C. O'Dell Collection.
John Ford, Baltimore, 1983.

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

Lot Essay

Root amber is not formed as previously thought by resin mixing with the earth at the base of a tree, but by chemical interaction afterwards. For a discussion of the process and examples of the material see Moss, Graham, Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, The Mary and George Bloch Collection, Vol. 7, Part 1, Organic, Metal, Mixed Media, Hong Kong, 2008, pp. 279-81, no. 1575.

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