A SUZHOU SCHOOL CARVED AGATE 'BUDAI' SNUFF BOTTLE China, 19^th century. Well hollowed, of flattened square form with a straight cylindrical neck, rising from an oval foot, finely carved in relief utilizing the darker markings with Budai backed by a halo, a bat flying above, surrounded by pine, lingzhi and a scholar's rock with serrated edges. The reverse with a Buddhist lion playing with his brocade ball, framed by a pine and scholar's rock. The translucent stone of a beige tone with dark brown patches.

Provenance: From a private collection on the East Coast, North America. Acquired 1997 in New York, USA.
Condition: Good condition with some old wear, a small chip at the mouth rim, and few minuscule nicks.

Stopper: Jadeite
Weight: 64.1 g
Dimensions: Height including stopper 61 mm. Diameter neck 18 mm and mouth 8 mm

Expert's note: The style of the relief carving, in particular the serrated rocks, is a hallmark of the Suzhou school.

The town of Suzhou, famous for its gardens and canals, was one of the main cultural centers in China, attracting painters, calligraphers, poets, musicians, and other talented individuals. Their pursuits comprise the main subject matter of the group of acclaimed snuff bottles intricately carved from agate and jade in a style unique to at least one workshop in the town, associated with the eighteenth-century master who occasionally signed his wares Zhiting.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie's New York, 19 March 2008, lot 205
Price: USD 49,000 or approx. EUR 63,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A fine carved Suzhou agate snuff bottle, Zhiting school, 1740-1820
Expert remark: Compare the related carving style, specifically the serrated rockwork, as well as the similar size (56 mm) and colors of the stone. Note the inscription on this bottle.



蘇作巧雕瑪瑙“布袋和尚“鼻烟壺
中國，十九世紀。掏膛良好，圓柱形短頸，平唇，寬肩微削，橢圓形圈足。半透明瑪瑙，巧妙利用天然色澤雕刻背著大袋子的布袋和尚，頭上飛舞著一隻蝙蝠，身側一棵松樹，身下一朵靈芝，一旁還有假山。另一面有雕刻太獅戲毬。質地細膩精純，色如焦糖，局部有黑褐斑塊，光澤明潤。

來源：北美東海岸私人收藏，1997年購於紐約。
品相：品相極好，有一些磨損，壺嘴邊有一個小缺口，些微細小的劃痕。

壺蓋：翡翠
重量：64.1 克
尺寸：高 （含蓋）61 毫米，頸部直徑18 毫米及壺口直徑8 毫米

專家注釋：此拍品的浮雕風格，尤其是鋸齒狀的岩石，是蘇州作坊的標誌。

蘇州以園林和運河聞名，是中國主要的文化中心之一，吸引了畫家、書法家、詩人、音樂家以及其他藝術家聚集。蘇作主要是蘇州地區的作坊所形成的一種風格，蘇作雕刻主要集中於玉石、瑪瑙等材質。可追溯到晚明清初那些帶有十六世紀琢玉大師“陸子岡”款的器皿。蘇作分兩種風格，一種是延續已經建立的蘇州雕刻風格，即晚明清初陸子岡派；一種是芝亭派。而蘇作鼻烟壺巧妙利用瑪瑙和美玉中的天然俏色部分精雕細琢，風格獨特。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2008年3月19日，lot 205
價格：USD 49,000（相當於今日EUR 63,500）
描述：1740-1820年芝亭派蘇作巧雕瑪瑙鼻烟壺
專家評論：比較相近的雕刻風格，特別是鋸齒狀的岩層，以及類似的尺寸（56毫米）和顏色。請注意這個瓶子上有銘文。