Bottle ID: 515

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BLACK, BIRD ON ROCK, INSCRIPTION

Date: 1800-1900

Height: 50 mm

Amber, black, well hollowed, of rounded form, carved in light relief with a bird alighting on a rock, its wings outstretched; the reverse with a four character inscription in archaic script reading: wealthy feeling of precious enjoyment.

Similar Examples:

Crane Collection no. 521.
Sotheby's, New York, September 14, 2010, lot 3, The Joe Grimberg Collection.
Sotheby's, New York, September 15, 1998, lot 255, The Neal W. and Frances R. Hunter Collection.

Provenance:

Asian Art Studio
Peter and Marion Bozzo

There is some confusion about the material of this bottle. Generally what is referred to as ‘black amber’ is in fact jet, however the Crane bottle is amber and not jet. Amber occurs in a range of different colors, which vary from the usual yellow-orange color associated with its name and range from a whitish color through a pale lemon-yellow, to brown and almost black. Other more unusual colors include red amber (cherry amber), green amber and very rarely blue amber. Despite the fairly simplistic carving, this bottle is very appealing as it has a warm tactile quality and is visually dramatic. No other published examples were found in this material, although stylistic comparisons can be made including the agate bottle from the Hunter Collection and the lacquered wood bottle from the Joe Grimberg Collection.

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