Shagreen (sometimes called sharkskin among collectors, but in fact a form of leather made mainly from the skin of species of the ray family, specially the stingray; see Pedersen 2004, p. 229).. China, late 18th – 19th century

An elegant modernist bottle. The body of wood, the exterior including base and top fully covered in black lacquer and shagreen, which shows color patterns ranging from mother of pearl to turquoise. Good and even surface polish.

Shape: Rectangular slightly sprawling form with tapered
shoulders
Hollowing: Standard
Mouth, neck and lip: Elongated cylindric neck, flat top and
narrow mouth
Base: Flat, of square form
Stopper: Rock crystal with tourmaline needles on an onyx
platelet
Height of the bottle with stopper: 7.5 cm
Width of the mouth: 5 mm
Width of the neck: 12 mm
Condition: Excellent, with some minor wear
Provenance: German Private Collection

Literature comparison: SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE MARY
AND GEORGE BLOCH COLLECTION, Part V. Bonham’s, May
27th 2012, Hong Kong, lot 154. (for a bottle made fr

鯊魚皮鼻煙壺, 清代
鯊魚皮(有人叫鯊魚皮但其實用一種鰩皮作成, 見Pederson
2004, 頁229)
中國, 18世紀晚期至19世紀
文雅摩登風格鼻煙壺. 用木頭雕成身部與架, 上用黑漆與鯊魚
皮. 顏色接近珍珠母到綠松石色. 優雅平整磨光.
文獻: SNUFF BOTTLES FROM THE MARY AND GEORGE
BLOCH COLLECTION, Part V. Bonham’s, 2012 年5月27日,
Hong Kong, 編號 154.