A CARVED AGATE ‘MELON AND LEAVES’ SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY
Agate of even caramel tone, with a darker layer of butterscotch and some shades of maroon. Good surface polish. China, 1780-1860

Carved in the shape of a melon with concentric striations. High relief on one side with two smaller melons borne on a leafy vine that continuously extends around the bottle. Cleverly executed under consideration of a natural butterscotch layer in the stone.

Shape: Melon form
Hollowing: Good
Mouth, neck and lip: The small mouth is succinct to the design
Base: Two carved leaves build the stand
Stopper: Carved amazonite in the shape of a tendril
Height of the bottle with stopper: 7 cm
Width of the mouth: 6 mm
Width of the neck: n/a
Condition: Good, with minor nibbling to some leaves
Provenance: German Private Collection

Literature comparison: The Pilkington Collection of Chinese Art. Sotheby’s, April 6th 2016, HONG KONG, lot 69. (for a white jade bottle with a similar design) ASIAN ART, Bonham’s, November 4th 2013, LONDON, lot 274. (for an amber bottle with a similar design).

Expertise: Alexander Zacke

瑪瑙雕瓜藤鼻煙壺, 清代

平整棕色瑪瑙帶赤褐色與濃棕色處, 優雅磨光

中國, 1780–1860 年

雕成一大條紋瓜與兩個小瓜在藤蔓上掛. 巧妙地布景, 用赤褐色處 強調圖案細節.

形狀：瓜形

掏膛：完整

瓶口、頸、瓶唇： 小口適合圖案形狀

底足：架由兩個小葉組成

蓋: 天河石雕成藤蔓形

高（帶蓋）：7厘米

口徑：0.6厘米

頸部直徑：無

狀態敘述：良好, 有些葉部分帶細小的不完處

來源：德國舊藏

文獻: The Pilkington Collection of Chinese Art. Sotheby’s, 2016 年4月6日, HONG KONG, 編號69. ASIAN ART, Bonham’s, 2013 年 11月4日, LONDON, 編號274.