ZHITING SCHOOL, SUZHOU, 1750-1850

The town of Suzhou, famous for its gardens and canals, was one of the main cultural centers in China, attracting painters, calligraphers, poets, musicians and other talented individuals. Their pursuits comprise the main subject matter of the group of acclaimed snuff bottles intricately carved from agate and jade.

Another carved agate bottle of similar shape and size from the Blanche B. Exstein Collection, was sold in these rooms, 21 March 2002, lot 188. For a series of related Zhiting School Suzhou agate bottles, see Moss, Graham, Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, The Mary and George Bloch Collection, Vol. 2, Part 2, Quartz, Hong Kong, 1998, pp. 504-547, no. 366-79.