Tabatière en agate Chine, Ecole de Zhiting, Suzhou, XVIIIE - XIXE siècle

de forme ovale, à décor finement sculpté en relief utilisant habilement les inclusions brunes, grises et blanches naturelles de la pierre, d'un dignitaire assis sous un pin, un verre à la main et accompagné de son serviteur sur une face, et de l'autre de deux personnages, l'un sur une petite embarcation, l'autre accroupi sur la rive, inscription à sept caractères "le chancelier de Gauche rêve vraiment tous les jours de dix-mille sapèques", le bouchon en corail (2)

Acquired in the early 1960's by a Piemontese aristocratic family, thence in the family by descent.

There are two bruises to the rocks on one side of the snuff bottle, one ca. O.3cm to the tip of one small rock, the second ca. O. 5cm to the side of an overhanging cliff. The bottle actually measures 6.5cm in height without stopper and 6cm in width. The colour of the stone is less yellow than the catalogue illustration suggests.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present snuff bottle may be attributed to a group of snuff bottles primarily carved in a black, grey or white chalcedony and associated with workshops active in and around the town of Suzhou in present day Jiangsu province in the late 18th and 19th century. Known for its distinctive style of carving of mountaineous landscapes in deep relief incorporating the natural variations in the stone to the best advantage of the design. Some of these bottles were further embellished with inscriptions, some incised, others with characters left in relief in a contrasting colour such as on the present example. See Hugh M. Moss, Chinese Snuff Bottles of the Silica or Quarz Group, London, 1971, pp. 62-73.