A CARVED AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE
1750-1860
Of rounded form with a cylindrical neck, and with a neatly carved oval footrim, superbly hollowed, of honey-brown and dark brown inclusions, carved on one main side with an eagle in flight among scrolling wispy clouds towards which a bat swoops, continued on the reverse with a reclining bear and a gamboling Buddhist lion; stopper.
2 1/4in (5.6cm) high
Footnotes:
1750-1860 瑪瑙刻動物鼻煙壺一件

Provenance:
Purchased July 3, 1998
Joan and Ted Dorf Collection, no. 293

This is a silhouette and carved agate where the dark inclusions in the stone have been utilized to great effect by the carver to create movement in the flight of the bird, the swoop of an approaching bat and the playfulness of the Buddhist lion.

There is a tiny star crack partially masked by the leaping lion in the decoration. The bottle is extremely well hollowed, with a lovely mottled appearance.