1760-1900

Details

**AN AMYGDALOIDAL BASALT SNUFF BOTTLE
1760-1900
Of rounded-rectangular form with recessed foot, the natural epidote and calcite inclusions forming attractive irregular patterns in the dark stone, coral stopper with vinyl collar
2 7/16 in. (6.21 cm.) high

Provenance

Ko Collection (Tianjin, 1937)
Christie's, London, 9 October 1974, lot 148
Bob C. Stevens
Sotheby's, New York, 26 March 1982, lot 135
Hugh M. Moss Ltd.

Literature

Bob C. Stevens, The Collector's Book of Snuff Bottles, no. 658
Moss, Graham, Tsang, The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle. The J & J Collection, Vol. I, no. 75

Exhibited

Christie's, New York, 1993
Empress Place Museum, Singapore, 1994
Museum für 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

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

Lot Essay

With its striking, abstract markings, this distinctive stone would have undoubtedly intrigued the Court. Bottles made from this material are usually left undecorated. This rounded-rectangular form became immensely popular in the mid-Qing period. It was particularly favored by jade-carvers wishing to show off the attractive color of the material to its best advantage and is also found in a range of other materials, many of which can be associated with Imperial production. The present example is extremely well carved and finished, with good hollowing and perfect formal integrity.
For a discussion on an amygdaloidal basalt bottle acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1895, see H. White, Snuff Bottles from China. The Victoria and Albert Museum Collection, p. 120. See also the amygdaloidal basalt bottle of more rounded form illustrated by Moss, Graham, Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, Vol. 3, Stones other than Jade and Quartz, pp. 94-5, no. 404.

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