A SHADOW AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE, 1750-1850 China. Very well hollowed, of rounded rectangular form with an oval foot ring and recessed base. The semi-transparent stone of a pale caramel tone with natural dark-brown inclusions. The darker streaks and shadings to the stone forming an appealing composition.

Provenance: From an English private collection.
Condition: Good condition with little wear, minor surface scratches, some nibbling to the mouth, the spoon with a loss. The stone with natural inclusions and fissures, some of which may have developed into microscopic hairline cracks over time.

Stopper: Coral stopper on silver-coated and incised mounting, carved spoon
Weight: 46 g
Dimensions: Height including stopper 64 mm. Diameter neck 19 mm and mouth 8 mm.

A nice example from this group of earlier agates, with inclusions that leave a lot of leeway for the interpretation game, which was so popular among court officials, scholars and collectors of the 18^th and 19^th centuries.

Auction result comparison: Compare a related shadow agate snuff bottle, dated 1770-1850, at Bonhams New York in Fine Chinese Paintings and Works of Art on 21 September 2020, lot 100, sold for USD 3,187. Compare with a closely related bottle at Christie’s New York, in Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 15 September 2011, lot 1180, sold for USD 4,000.

1750-1850年影子瑪瑙鼻烟壺
中國。掏膛良好，寬肩微削，橢圓形圈足，圓柱形短頸，平唇。淺焦糖色調的半透明石料，帶有天然的深棕色紋理。石料上較深的條紋和陰影引人注目。

來源：英國私人收藏。
品相：狀況良好，磨損很小，表面有輕微劃痕，嘴部有一些小磕損，勺子遺失。具有天然內沁和紋理的瑪瑙，隨著時間的推移，其中一些可能已經發展成微小的細縫。

壺蓋: 珊瑚壺蓋包銀，雕刻的小勺
重量：46 克
尺寸：含壺蓋高64 毫米. 頸部直徑19 毫米 ，嘴部直徑8 毫米

拍賣結果比較：比較一件相近1770-1850年的瑪瑙鼻烟壺，見紐約邦翰思Fine Chinese Paintings and Works of Art 2020年9月21日 lot 100, 售價USD 3,187；比較相近的鼻烟壺 ，見紐約佳士得Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art 2011年9月15日 lot 1180, 售價USD 4,000。