AN AGATE ‘BODHIDHARMA’ SNUFF BOTTLE SUZHOU, SCHOOL OF ZHITING, MARK AND PERIOD OF TONGZHI

adequately, but irregularly hollowed, with a concave lip and a slightly recessed, slightly convex foot, carved with a continuous, partially cameo scene of a Bodhidharma seated enveloped in his robes in front of a large rock from the top of which grow clusters of pine needles and a fringe of leaves, in a landscape with a rocky grotto, also fringed with pine needles, with a stream beneath it and two coloured inclusions at the neck carved as clouds, inscribed in relief, cameo draft script with the title Damo and in relief, cameo seal script the two-character reign-mark; the ruby stopper with a gilt-bronze collar

Christie’s London, 9th December 1986, lot 89.
Robert Hall, London, 1987.

Chinese Snuff Bottles: A Miniature Art from the Collection of George and Mary Bloch, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1994, cat. no. 231 .
National Museum of Singapore, Singapore, 1994-1995.

Chinese Snuff Bottles [I], Robert Hall, London, 1987, cat. no. 11.
Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 2, Hong Kong, 1998, no. 379.

There is a tiny nick to the outer lip that has been partially polished, otherwise the snuff bottle is in good condition. The actual colour of the snuff bottle is more yellowish brown, somewhat less pink compared to the catalogue illustration.
"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 bottle is one of the rare large-scale figure bottles from School of Zhiting group and is believed to be the latest identifiable work from the Suzhou workshops. Certain stylistic features as well as the quality of the hollowing of the bottle indicate that it was a product of the second half of the nineteenth century.

For another example of a large-scale figure bottle of this group, see one in the Bloch collection, sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 28th November 2011, lot 101.