A DENDRITIC ‘MOSS’ AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE, MID-QING DYNASTY
China, 1750-1830. Well hollowed, the rounded rectangular body supported on a short spreading foot and rising to a tall cylindrical neck, the translucent honey-toned stone attractively accented with opaque spinach-colored leafy moss tendrils.


Provenance:
US trade. The base with an old collector’s paper label, ‘24’. The spoon with a three-character inscription in Chinese.

Condition:
Very good condition with only minor old wear. The stone with few natural inclusions and fissures which may have developed into microscopic hairline cracks.

Stopper: Coral cabochon set within an incised bronze fitting and an old spoon
Weight: 59.3 g
Dimensions: Height including stopper 63 mm. Diameter neck 20 mm and mouth 7 mm.


Moss agate
is typically formed in volcanic rock cavities or other types of fissures, where mineral-rich solutions seep in and create intricate patterns and shapes within the stone. The inclusions in moss agate are often made up of minerals such as iron or manganese that create the green or brown coloration resembling moss or plant matter.


Literature comparison:

Compare a related moss agate snuff bottle in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 14.40.489a, b.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 25 May 2014, lot 1065
Price: HKD 93,750 or approx.
EUR 13,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A moss agate snuff botte, Qing dynasty, 18th / 19th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and material, albeit of a slightly different color.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 23 March 2011, lot 765
Estimate: USD 5,000 or approx.
EUR 6,300
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A fine large moss agate snuff bottle, Qing dynasty, 1750-1820
Expert remark: Compare the closely related honey-toned stone with similar moss-green inclusions. Note the slightly different form.




清代中期苔蘚瑪瑙鼻烟壺

中國，1750-1830 年。 掏膛良好，圓柱形頸部，矩形壺，淺橢圓形圈足。半透明的蜂蜜色調的石料點綴著不透明的菠菜色的苔蘚紋。


來源：
美國古玩交易，底座上有收藏紙標籤“24”。勺子上刻有三個漢字。

品相：
狀況極好，只有輕微磨損。輕微天然内沁和裂縫，這些裂縫可能發展成微小的裂縫。

壺蓋：圓形珊瑚，銅托片，小勺
重量：59.3 克
尺寸：含蓋高63 毫米，頸部直徑20 毫米，壺口直徑7 毫米。


文獻比較：

比較一件相近的海藻瑪瑙鼻煙壺，收藏於大都會藝術博物館，館藏編號14.40.489a, b。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2014年5月25日，lot 1065
價格：HKD 93,750（相當於今日
EUR 13,500
）
描述：清十八 / 十九世紀海藻瑪瑙鼻煙壺
專家評論：比較非常相近的外形和材料，雖然不同的顏料。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2011年3月23日，lot 765
估價：USD 5,000（相當於今日
EUR 6,300
）
描述：1750-1820年海藻瑪瑙鼻煙壺
專家評論：比較非常相近的蜜色調，具有類似的苔綠色內沁。請注意不同的外形。