A FINELY POLISHED AND WELL HOLLOWED 'PUDDINGSTONE' SNUFF BOTTLE, 1750-1850

拍品描述

A FINELY POLISHED AND WELL HOLLOWED 'PUDDINGSTONE' SNUFF BOTTLE, 1750-1850 China. Of flattened ovoid form, the shoulders rising to a cylindrical neck with concave lip, the undecorated stone consisting of a dark grey-brown matrix embedded with pebbles of various shapes and sizes, in shades of russet-brown and ochre. The surface with a smooth, soft polish. Stopper: Carved bone on stained bone platelet Dimensions: Height including stopper 67 mm. Diameter neck 21 mm and mouth 6 mm. Puddingstone is the general term for a conglomerate of sedimentary flint pebbles. There are two types, quartz and limestone conglomerate, this bottle falls into the second category. Bottles carved from this striking material come in a wide variety of colors, textures, sizes, and shapes. The stone’s appearance is not dissimilar to plum pudding, from which it derives its name. The variation in size of the pebbles sets up an attractive counterpoint to the beige matrix, and the combination of shapes and sizes creates a strong design that compliments the simple and tactile form. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related limestone conglomerate snuff bottle, dated 1800-1900, 6.3 cm tall, illustrated in Michael C. Hughes, The Blair bequest: Chinese snuff bottles from the Princeton University Art Museum, Baltimore, 2002, p. 84, no. 78. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 24 November 2012, lot 5 Price: HKD 187,500 or approx. EUR 29,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the similar form and pebble inclusions. Note the size (5.2 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 25 November 2013, lot 87 Price: HKD 62,500 or approx. EUR 9,300 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the similar color and matrix of the stone. Note the form.

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