Banded Agate (Floater) Snuff Bottle, Mid-Qing Dynasty 1760-1850
Snuff Bottles
$975
- Material
- Agate
- Color
- Multi-Color
- Origin
- China
- Age / Period
- 1800-1849
- Dimensions
- Height: 2.68 inches (6.8cm) - not including stopper, Width: 2.32 inches (5.9cm), Thickness: 1.36 inches (3.4cm)
- Condition
- Estate / Pre-owned
This is a Mid-Qing (1760-1850) Banded Agate, Large Snuff Bottle of a bulbous circular shape, with a broad cylindrical neck, concave mouth, and a raised oval elongated foot rim, carved from a stone of grayish brown tone with russet streaks and patches, and a white patch on one of its sides, towards the foot rim; the rounded sloping shoulders rising to a cylindrical neck, with a large and wide mouth. T hese bottles typically feature natural, colorful swirling striations of white to dark tan or brown, and are known for their"floating" effect, where specific, natural markings on the stone create imagery, * Material: Banded Agate or chalcedony, characterized by multi-color layers (tan, brown, white, cream). * "Floater" Definition: Refers to agate with natural,, inclusions or banding that appears to "float" within the stone or is cleverly utilized by the carver to represent a landscape or scene, sometimes called naturalistic, picture, or landscape agate. * Features: xtremely very well hollowed; the artisan who worked the inside of the bottle must have spent countless hours carving the inside to obtain such thin walls, making the bottle lighter than other bottles of similar size; * Purpose: Used by the upper classes of the Qing dynasty for storing snuff. <br /> These items are highly collectible, with prices varying based on the clarity of the banding, the depth of the hollowing, and the quality of the stone. The bottle comes with a mostly light gray agate stopper with a metal collar and a metal spoon. The outstanding bottle is in remarkable preserved condition. Bottle Measurements Height: 2.68 inches (6.8cm) - not including stopper Width: 2.32 inches (5.9cm) Thickness: 1.36 inches (3.4cm) Weight: 3.2 ounces For an exact model of this large late 18^th^/early 19^th^century form, look at item 659 of 'The Collector's Book of Snuff Bottles" by C. Stevens