OFFICIAL SCHOOL, 1780-1880

Details

A SMALL DENDRITIC AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE
OFFICIAL SCHOOL, 1780-1880
One side of the icy-grey bottle is centered by a dark russet tree-like inclusion of dark brown fading to pale russet.
1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm.) high, agate stopper

Provenance

Ko Family Collection.
Hugh Moss (HK) Ltd., Hong Kong, 2006.
Ruth and Carl Barron Collection, Belmont, Massachusetts, no. 2693.

Special notice

This lot is offered without reserve.

Lot Essay

The natural pattern on the current bottle resembles a tree, standing above its reflection in a pond or still pool. This type of agate, often called mocha stone, is noted for the complete images in the stone which can resemble a fern or tree. 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 in Chinese Snuff Bottles of the Silica or Quartz Group, London, 1971, p. 15, nos. 25 and 26.

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