AN UNUSUAL CARVED DENDRITIC AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE

1760-1880

Details

AN UNUSUAL CARVED DENDRITIC AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE
1760-1880
Of compressed spherical form with a concave foot, cleverly carved utilizing the pale green, grey, misty-white and brown markings with a continuous design of Xiwangmu holding a flywhisk in her left hand, with two cranes flying towards her, all amidst swirling clouds, one band of which continues beneath the foot, jadeite stopper
2 1/16 in. (5.2 cm.) high

Provenance

Galia Baylin
Sotheby's, New York, 3 October 1980, lot 193
Hugh M. Moss Ltd.

Literature

Moss et. al., The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle, The J & J Collection, vol. 1, no. 160

Exhibited

Christie's, New York, 1993
Empress Place Museum, Singapore, 1994
Museum fur Kunsthandwerk, Frankfurt, 1996-1997
Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, London, 1997
Naples Museum of Art, Florida, 2002
Portland Museum of Art, Oregon, 2002
National Museum of History, Taipei, 2002
International Asian Art Fair, Seventh Regiment Armory, New York, 2003
Poly Art Museum, Beijing, 2003

Lot Essay

The markings of this unusual specimen, which combine concentric lines of agate with dendritic inclusions in a matrix of misty, swirling chalcedony, have been used with great inspiration. The carver has created an appropriate setting for Xiwangmu, the Daoist Goddess of the West, who has summoned her celestial vehicle, the crane.

More from J & J COLLECTION OF SNUFF BOTTLES, PART III

View All