A FLOATING BANDED AGATE ‘CHICKEN CUP HOMAGE’ SNUFF BOTTLE, 1750-1850Dendritic agate of light sand-color with bands of white, grey, blue and dark-brown. Sprinkles of dark-brown and black. Good hand-polished finish. China, 1750-1850This bottle does not show any carving whatsoever, as the one and only purpose of this miniature masterpiece was to use the natural appearance of the mineral as a homage to the universally admired ‘chicken cup’ design originating in the Chenghua period.The ‘chicken cup’ design is not only celebrated as one of the finest and rarest specimens of Chinese ceramics – its materials, potting, painting and firing being of the highest quality – but it also is testimony to Chinese connoisseurship over the centuries and as such is a historical document that illustrates an aspect of China’s culture. Praised and desired by Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) emperors and other discerning literati collectors, ‘chicken cups’ have acquired a legendary aura that goes well beyond their immediate art-historical importance.Shape: Slightly bulbous round shapeHollowing: Outstanding Mouth, neck and lip: Short cylindric neck, the base of neck slightly domed, the mouth almost cylindric and of average proportions, slanted lipBase: Flat, slightly curved ovalStopper: Green glassHeight of the bottle with stopper: 6.4 cm.Width of the mouth: 7 mm.Width of the neck: 19 mm.Condition: Excellent, with some calcification near the base of neckProvenance: Austrian private collectionLiterature comparison: The Meiyintang ‘Chicken Cup'. Sotheby’s, Hong Kong, April 8th, 2014, lot 1.1750-1850帶狀瑪瑙“小鷄圖”水上漂鼻烟壺品相極好, 頸部可見鈣化部位奧地利私人收藏