A CARVED TOURMALINE BOTTLE

1820-1900

Details

A CARVED TOURMALINE BOTTLE
1820-1900
Of flattened ovoid form, perhaps converted from a belt buckle, carved on one side in high relief with two birds in flight, the reverse carved with a spray of peony and a bat, the stone of an intense opalescent purplish-pink tone, stopper
2 5/8in. (6.3cm.) high

Provenance

Hilda Somers Collection, acquired prior to 1952.

Lot Essay

This appears to be a clever conversion from a tourmaline belt-buckle, retaining the two button-clasps on the reverse. Belt buckles of this type are known in tourmaline from the Qianlong period, and conversions were a regular occurance in the production of snuff bottles when either old damaged pieces could be recycled, or a favorite object, such as a jade pebble carving, might be turned into a snuff bottle.

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