A CAMEO-CARVED ROCK CRYSTAL SNUFF BOTTLE

ZHITING SCHOOL, SUZHOU, 1780-1880

Details

A CAMEO-CARVED ROCK CRYSTAL SNUFF BOTTLE
ZHITING SCHOOL, SUZHOU, 1780-1880
The bottle is carved through the opaque white skin with two horses and a figure, likely inferring the wish for good things to come. The reverse is carved with three characters, shuang jun tu ('Two Handsome Horses') between two hillsides below a low sun.
2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm.) high, turquoise stopper

Provenance

Asiantiques, Winter Park, Florida, 2001.
Ruth and Carl Barron Collection, Belmont, Massachusetts, no. 3230.

Brought to you by

Margaret Gristina

mgristina@christies.com +1 212 636 2180

Lot Essay

The town of Suzhou, famous for its gardens and canals, was also one of the main cultural centers in China, attracting many painters, calligraphers, poets, musicians and other talented individuals. Their pursuits and interests form the main subject matter of the group of acclaimed snuff bottles intricately carved from agate and jade in a style unique to the workshop associated with Zhiting, a famous jade carver from the area. Rock crystal examples in this style are more unusual to find than jade or agate.

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