An Agate ‘Phoenix’ Snuff Bottle Official School, Qing Dynasty, 18th / 19th Century

Mr & Mrs D. A. Ionides.
D. A. Ionides Will Trust.
Christie’s London, 13th June 1990, lot 518.

Moss et al., 1996-2009, vol. 2, no. 278.

Natural flaws visible, one slightly opened on the left side. Good condition.
"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."

On this unusual bottle, both sides are almost entirely carved in relief, albeit very low relief, and the designs are entirely contrived through lapidary work with one notable, extraordinary exception: the face of the fenghuang. The bottle is in fact closer to the full cameo relief type than to a traditional shadow agate bottle.

Apart from the clarity of design, allowed by the technique, of course, the fenghuang is an unusual subject for the medium. One reason for the rarity of this design may have been its great complexity of profile. To establish it beyond doubt as a fenghuang is a great deal more demanding of detail than establishing the identity of a duck or goose. It probably required thin level sheets of darker material running through the quartz to achieve the more complex design.

The other main side is also rather unusual because of its more complex subject matter, with two distinct elements. The design of the eagle (ying) and the bear (xiong) was a standard image used to evoke ideas of courage, loyalty, and ability to achieve, qualities perceived as inherent in a hero (yingxiong). Above all, however, this snuff bottle is rare in having an equally compelling silhouette subject on each side with practically no extraneous markings to interfere with the clarity of either.