A FOSSILIFEROUS LIMESTONE SNUFF BOTTLE, 1750-1880China. Of rounded rectangular form, resting on a flat, recessed foot, and surmounted by a cylindrical neck with flat lip. The opaque black limestone body with a dense network of fossil inclusions mostly appearing as small dots and at the narrow sides as elongated lines.Provenance: An English private collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles.Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, a small chip to the lip, little nibbling to lip and foot, light surface scratches. The stopper with a small chip.Stopper: Carved turquoise with the depiction of a coiled ChilongWeight: 84.1 gDimensions: Height incl. stopper 70 mm, Diameter neck 20 mm and mouth 7 mmWith a padded silk box. (2)This is a great example of a limestone bottle, which although visually dramatic, is still understated. The inclusions in the stone are more reminiscent of an abstract painting than a natural material.Literatureparison:Several related snuff bottles with a variety of markings and colors are illustrated in Bob C. Stevens, The Collector's Book of Snuff Bottles, nos. 671-678, 680, and 681.Auction resultparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Christie’s New York, 30 March 2005, lot 47Price: USD 5,040 or approx.EUR 7,200 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A fossiliferous limestone snuff bottle, 1750-1880Expert remark:pare the closely related form and material. Note the size (58 mm).1750-1880年抱子石鼻煙壺中國，長方圓角，平口，直頸，淺圈足。不透明的黑色石灰岩，有密集的化石包裹體網絡，大部分呈小點狀，窄邊呈細長線狀。