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A SILHOUETTE AGATE 'MAGPIES, BUTTERFLY AND MINOGAME' SNUFF BOTTLE, OFFICIAL SCHOOL, 1780-1880
奥地利
2025年10月16日 开拍
拍品描述
China. Well hollowed, the flattened and compressed spherical body rising from an oval foot to a cylindrical neck with flat lip, finely carved through the dark-brown markings in the stone on one side to depict two magpies perched on rockwork, one bird raising its head towards a butterfly fluttering above.Expert’s note: Beneath the main motif, a minogame (蓑亀, mǐn wù guī in Chinese, literally “green?hair turtle”) is distinctly visible in the silhouette. This legendary turtle—so ancient that algae grow upon its shell, resembling a straw rain?coat—symbolizes longevity, wisdom, and enduring felicity. In East Asian decorative arts, the minogame is often depicted alongside magpies (鹊, què), which represent joy and marital happiness, and butterflies (蝶, hú dié), a symbol of love, beauty, and also long life, the trio—minogame with magpies and butterflies—forms a classic auspicious ensemble signifying wishes for a long, joyful, elegant life filled with love.What is particularly extraordinary in this bottle is that the lapidary has utilized a 100?% natural formation in the agate to create a natural black shadow that artfully defines the minogame’s silhouette. It is rare for a stone's natural coloration to so perfectly echo the symbolic form of a turtle embodying longevity and good fortune.Provenance: This bottle comes from a collection that originates from a highly distinguished Taiwanese family and was assembled primarily during the 1980s and 1990s. Many of the snuff bottles in the collection were acquired in Hong Kong, with the majority believed to have been purchased through Christie's and Sotheby's during this period. While original receipts were not retained, possibly due to the sheer size of the collection, it is likely that several of these bottles can be traced in Sotheby's and Christie's catalogues from the 1980s and 1990s. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, tiny nibbles to the mouth, and light surface scratches. The stone with natural fissures, some of which have developed into thin hairline cracks.Stopper: Glass cabochon in imitation of coral and jadeite on a turquoise plateletWeight: 68.8 gDimensions: Height including stopper 72 mm. Diameter neck 21 mm and mouth 8 mmBirds were a popular subject among the makers of silhouette agate snuff bottles, and the present bottle is a fine example of this group. The 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.Literature comparison: For a discussion on the Official School of hardstone carving, see Moss, Graham and Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, Vol. 2, Quartz, no. 258, with numerous examples.Auction result comparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Christie's New York, 19 March 2008, lot 221Price: USD 10,000 or approx. EUR 13,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing: A carved silhouette agate snuff bottle, official school, 1780-1860Expert remark: Compare the closely related stone, manner of carving, and motifs. Note the size (6.1 cm)Auction result comparison:Type: RelatedAuction: Bonhams New York, 16 September 2013, lot 8078Price: USD 10,000 or approx. EUR 12,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing: A shadow agate snuff bottle with birds, 1780-1880Expert remark: Compare the related stone, manner of carving, and motifs. Note the size (6.1 cm).

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拍品估价:1,500 - 3,000 欧元 起拍价格:1,500 欧元  买家佣金:

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