AN AGATE 'DOUBLE GOURD' SNUFF BOTTLE, 18TH - 19TH CENTURY China. Well carved in the form of a gourd borne on an open worked gnarled branch issuing a smaller double-gourd in high relief and scrolling leafy vines in low relief, the body further carved in low relief with a butterfly and neatly incised. The translucent stone of a creamy white color with pale amber bands, shadings, and veins as well as a few dark-brown specks.

Provenance: From a south German private collection, assembled since the 1980s, and thence by descent to the last owner.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, minuscule nibbling to mouth. The stone with natural inclusions and fissures, some of which may have developed into fine hairline cracks over time.

Stopper: Silver-mounted coral branch
Weight: 71.0 g
Dimensions: Height including stopper 74 mm. Diameter mouth 6 mm

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby's New York, 28 September 2021, lot 816
Price: USD 2,772 or approx. EUR 2,900 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A carved agate 'butterfly and gourd' snuff bottle, Qing dynasty, 18th century



十八至十九世紀葫蘆形瑪瑙鼻烟壺
中國。雕刻精美，成葫蘆形，壺身淺浮雕葫蘆籐與枝葉，側面雕一個小葫蘆。瑪瑙晶瑩剔透，帶有淡琥珀色紋理以及深棕色斑塊。

來源：德國南部私人收藏，上世紀八十年代起開始組建，保存至最後一名持有人。
品相：狀況極好，小磨損，壺口有輕微的磕損。具有天然內沁和裂縫的石料，隨著時間的推移，其中一些可能已經發展成細小的裂縫。

壺蓋：珊瑚枝包銀邊
重量：71.0 克
尺寸：總高74 毫米，口部直徑6 毫米

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2021年9月28日，lot 816
價格：USD 2,772（相當於今日EUR 2,900）
描述：清十八世紀瑪瑙巧雕瓜瓞綿綿鼻烟壺