Bottle ID: 521

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CARVED, TIGER, BAT, BIRD IN PINE TREE

Date: 1750-1850

Height: 46 mm

Amber, well hollowed, of flattened ovoid form, and opaque variegated honey-brown tones, carved in low relief, on one side with a tiger climbing stealthily over a rock, a bat swooping above; the reverse with a bird on a pine tree, the sides carved with mock mask and ring handles.

Similar Examples:

Crane Collection no. 515.
Stevens, Bob C. The Collector's Book of Snuff Bottles, 1976, p. 179, no. 712.
Beaussant Lefevre, Paris, France, November 18, 2005, lot 198.

Provenance:

Asian Art Studio
Peter and Marion Bozzo

Zhao Zhiqian in his 19^th century writings on snuff bottles entitled Yonglu Xianjie, wrote about different types of amber stating: “….One kind has a pine root pattern mixed in, and this is called ‘sparrow-brains’ (quenao)”. It appears to be that the amber shown here with its variegated markings would fit in with this category. The subject matter on both sides of this bottle work very well with the material; on one side a striped tiger is shown climbing stealthily over a rock whilst on the other side the carver uses the markings in the material to equal effect with a gnarled pine tree on which a bird is perched.

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