Large MOSS (Floater) AGATE Snuff Bottle, C. 1760-1850

Snuff Bottles

$1,250

Material

Volcanic Puddngstone

Color

Multi-Color

Origin

China

Age / Period

1800-1849

Dimensions

Height: 2.82 inches (7.2cm) - not including stopper, Width: 2.45 inches (6.2cm), Thickness: 1.42 inches (3.6cm)

Condition

Estate / Pre-owned

Moss Agate (also called a form of Dendritic Chalcedony), Large Snuff Bottle of a bulbous circular shape, supported on a raised oval elongated foot rim, the rounded sloping shoulders rising to a cylindrical neck, with a large and wide mouth; the stone showing clusters of mineral (iron or Manganese oxide) of yellow, light green, dark green, light brown on a grayish ground on one side, and muddle ferns and tree branches mostly in green, dark green and some light brown patches, on the other side. Extremely 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; so much so. that it can be characterized as a 'Floater' (I personally tested it). The bottle comes with a mostly light gray with gray patches moss agate stopper with a black collar and a long spoon. The outstanding bottle is in remarkable preserved condition. Bottle Measurements Height: 2.82 inches (7.2cm) - not including stopper Width: 2.45 inches (6.2cm) Thickness: 1.42 inches (3.6cm) Weight: 4.0 ounces A similar shaped bottle was sold at auction by IGabel Auctions, on 28 April 2020, for $3,125.00. See photo #8 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