A BUTTERSCOTCH AGATE 'LOTUS' SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY
Semi-translucent agate of natural even butterscotch tone with a smooth finish. China, 1760-1860

Masterfully carved in low relief to depict a variety of lotus plants with many neatly incised details, emerging from waves surrounding the base.

Shape: Bulbous ovoid form
Hollowing: Excellent
Mouth, neck and lip: Short sprawling neck with flat top, slanted lip, narrow mouth and deep, symmetric inner cylinder
Base: Convex oval base with flat foot rim
Stopper: Possibly matching. Coral on platelet with good spoon.
Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.3 cm
Width of the mouth: 6 mm
Width of the neck: 18 mm
Condition: Perfect
Provenance: British Private Collection

Literature comparison: Chinese Art. Sotheby's, June 2nd 2016, HONG KONG, lot 768. (for an agate bottle with a similar subject, but the stone of different color) Bob C. Stevens, The Collectors Book of Snuff Bottles, lot 531. (for a bottle made of the same material, but with a different subject).

Expertise: Alexander Zacke

雞血石鼻煙壺, 清代

雞血石, 未加工石, 平整磨光, 中國, 18/19世紀



不透明石帶多種綠合紅色調, 相互調和, 明顯地說明這種石的白話名字叫“雞血”石. 在古代歐洲有人相信這種石帶著神奇的力量.



形狀：平面幾乎球形

掏膛：完整

瓶口、頸、瓶唇： 短圓柱形頸, 細小的擴散, 平頭, 窄口, 斜唇外部

底足：平面橢圓形

蓋: 雞血石, 或相配, 鐵紅色帶綠與白色條紋

高（帶蓋）：6厘米

口徑：0.6厘米

頸部直徑：1.8厘米

狀態敘述：完善, 幾乎看不到的熔點在唇外部, 對這種石為自然

來源：英國私人舊藏

文獻: SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE MARY AND GEORGE BLOCH COLLECTION: PART X. Sotheby’s, 2015 年6月1日, HONG KONG, 編號14. Bob C. Stevens, 《中國鼻煙壺收藏指南》, 編號507-510.