Bottle ID: 284

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FOSSILIZED CORAL ROUNDED

Date: 1750-1860

Height: 55 mm

 

Fossilized coral, well hollowed, of flattened rounded form with shoulders sloping to a slightly everted concave mouth, and with a footrim with concave ovoid base, the stone of light gray tones with irregular black splashes and natural lines, with a natural honey-comb pattern throughout.

 

Similar Examples:

Crane Collection no. 478
Chinese Snuff Bottles and Dishes. Catalogue of an exhibition from the Collection of Bob C. Stevens, Mikimoto Hall, Tokyo, 1978, p. 91, no. 255.
Christie, Manson & Woods, St James's, London, June 18, 1973, lot 158, The Ko Familiy Collection, Part III.
Sotheby's, New York, April 16, 1985, lot 145, The Collection of Alice B. McReynolds, Part II.

 

Provenance:

Hugh Moss [HK] Ltd.

 

 

 

 

 

Fossiliferous limestone, of this variety, is thought to have been indigenous to China, although it is conspicuous by its absence in pre-Qing works of art and was very rarely used for anything other than snuff bottles. It may have been discovered only in the Qing dynasty, or perhaps its fragility and softness have mitigated against the survival of earlier examples of the stone. The majority of limestone bottles are not particularly well hollowed, and are, as a result generally heavy in the hand. This example is very well hollowed for this group, but is not surprising given the overall quality of the carving, particularly of the mouth and foot.

 

 

 

 

 

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