A SILHOUETTE AGATE 'BIRDS' SNUFF BOTTLE 1750-1860A SILHOUETTE AGATE 'BIRDS' SNUFF BOTTLE1750-1860Well-hollowed, of rounded, rectangular form supported on an oval footrim, with a cylindrical neck and recessed lip, one main side incorporating the natural brown inclusions in the matrix, polished to present a mother bird and its chick on a rock formation under floating clouds. 2 1/4in (5.8cm) high1750-1860 影子瑪瑙雙鳥圖鼻煙壺一件Provenance:Joan and Ted Dorf Collection, no. 332The term 'eyeball agate' was coined in the seventies by Hugh Moss and is specific to snuff bottle descriptions. It refers to carved and polished subject matter, such as birds or fish, where the eye or eyes of the subject are enhanced by polishing the darker inclusions. This is often done by the carver when the darker abstract markings seem to lend themselves to depictions of the subject.