AN AGATE ‘DOUBLE-GOURD’ SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTY

Partially banded agate of even honey-color with hues of amber and dark-brown. Excellent surface polish.

China, 1780-1880

The gourd is popular as a charm to ward off evil spirits and diseases, because its first character (hulu 葫芦) has the same pronunciation as the word to "protect" or "guard" (hu) and also the word for "blessing" (hu).

Shape: Double-gourd.
Hollowing: Good.
Mouth, neck and lip: Elongated neck with convex top. Small mouth.
Base: Convex oval base with flat foot rim.
Stopper: Quartz stopper on black platelet with good spoon.
Height of the bottle with stopper: 6.4 cm.
Width of the mouth: 5 mm.
Width of the neck: 12 mm.
Weight: 39,5 grams.
Condition: Excellent. Some remainders of old snuff inside.
Provenance: American private collection.

清代瑪瑙葫芦鼻烟壺
均勻的蜜色的帶狀瑪瑙，伴隨著琥珀及深褐的色澤，表面優異磨光
中國，1780-1880年
品相極佳
美國私人收藏