OFFICAL SCHOOL, 1780-1850

Details

A SHADOW AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE
OFFICAL SCHOOL, 1780-1850
The bottle is of rounded rectangular form with irregular, abstract, dark dendritic markings and is carved on one side with an inscription in seal script reading jie xin ji qing song (telling the green pine how our hearts are as one). The base is inscribed zhen wan (precious plaything).
2 5⁄16 in. (5.9 cm.) high, glass stopper

Provenance

Robert Kleiner, London, 1992.
Rachelle R. Holden Collection, New York.

Literature

R. Holden, Rivers and Mountains Far From the World - The Rachelle R. Holden Collection, A Personal Commentary, New York, 1994, pp. 308-309, no. 136.

Conditions of sale

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Lot Essay

The natural pattern on the current bottle resembles a tree emerging from rocks. This type of agate, often called mocha stone, is noted for the images in the stone which can resemble a fern or tree, as referred to by the inscription on the current bottle which is called "the green pine." These dark russet designs are caused by manganese or iron oxide deposits in the stone. For a discussion of mocha stone snuff bottles and other agate bottles, see H. Moss, Chinese Snuff Bottles of the Silica or Quartz Group, London, 1971, p. 15, nos. 25 and 26.

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