A SUPERB 'SUZHOU' AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE

very well hollowed, of small rounded form, supported on a flat foot, brilliantly carved in the round and in varying degrees of relief, the natural darker brown inclusions in the honey-brown stone accentuated to depict on the front three robed figures leisurely seated by covered vessels in front of a garden wall and below a pine tree, the reverse with a terraced pavilion carved in low relief, bordered to the left by a wutong tree, a dark brown inclusion on the cylindrical neck cleverly rendered as the sun

The Kaynes-Klitz Collection.
Sotheby's Hong Kong, 16th November 1989, lot 76 and cover.

Patrick K. M. Kwok, 'The Joe Grimberg Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles', Arts of Asia, November-December 1993, p. 94, no. 26.

The bottle is in very good condition overall. The inclusion carved as pine needle clusters on the neck and mouth is a little rough due to the natural texture of the stone. There are tiny nicks on the shoulders.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present agate bottle is a stellar example of the virtuosity of the Suzhou School. Its deft and imaginative design, such as the depth to which the three figures are carved, create a naturalistic sense of movement. Moreover, the ingenious capturing of the darker inclusions to highlight details such as caps on the figures or the lingzhi sprouting from the walls of the terrace place this bottle as one of the finest in this genre.