Very Unusual, Gray and Black Fossiliferous Limestone Snuff Bottle, 18/19 C.

Snuff Bottles

$2,450

Material

Volcanic Puddngstone

Color

Multi-Color

Origin

China

Age / Period

1800-1849

Dimensions

Height: 2.16 inches (5.4cm) - not including stopper, Width: 2.0 inches (5.0cm), Thickness: 0.73 inches (1.8cm)

Condition

Estate / Pre-owned

This is an extremely unusual color and pattern Fossiliferous Limestone Snuff Bottle of Flattened Circular shape, supported on an oval, slightly concave, foo t rim, the slopping shoulders rising to a slightly flared neck, with a slightly concave mouth. the artisan must have gone through the trouble of adding certain refined characteristics such as the shaping in concave form of the neck, mouth and foot rim, to give the bottle the special form and character that it has. The form and style of this bottle was popular in the 18th century, according to Bob c. Stevens in his book 'The Collector's Book of Snuff Bottles'. What makes the bottle so unusual is its unique colors and patterns of the stone. It has mostly a dark gray background, with explosion-like round flares of light gray, and varying random and irregular stripes and dots of black, dark gray, light gray and opaque white colors. Every side of the bottle shows a different mixture of colors and patterns. I think that I can say with certainty that there is no other bottle like it in any collection. This bottle is unique. Alan R. Troung, in one of his blogs, written on 10 September 2010, shows a bottle with somewhat similar material and style, from Sotheby's, with an estimated value of $6,000 to $9,000. This bottle comes with a green jadeite stopper and spoon. . Similar shaped bottles are illustrated in Stevens, op.cit., fig 172, 176, 178 . This outstanding bottle is in remarkable preserved condition. Bottle Measurements Height: 2.16 inches (5.4cm) - not including stopper Width: 2.0 inches (5.0cm) Thickness: 0.73 inches (1.8cm) Weight: 2.4 ounces