Bottle ID: 274

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OCTAGONAL, FACETED

Date: 1750-1800

Height: 41 mm

Agate, well hollowed, of small octagonal faceted form, the front and reverse carved with four raised quatrefoil panels, the stone of pale honey tones and with some banding.

Imperial, attributed to the Palace Workshops, Beijing.

Similar Examples:

Crane Collection no. 275
Crane Collection nos. 104, 276 and 498
Low, Denis S. K. Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Sanctum of Enlightened Respect III, 2007, p. 264, no. 229 and p. 265, no. 230.
Sotheby's, Los Angeles, October 31, 1984, lot 119, Collection of Alice B. McReynolds, Part I.

Provenance:

Clare Lawrence Ltd.
Alexander Brody
Clare Lawrence Ltd.
Joseph Baruch Silver

Published:

Lawrence, Clare. The Alexander Brody Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles, 1995, p. 18, no. 15
Brody, Alexander. Old Wine into Old Bottles. A Collector's Commonplace Book, 1993, pp. 28 and 148

Faceting appears to be a shape which developed in the 18th century in the Imperial Court as a decorative feature copied from Western tradition and derived directly from European tributes presented to the Court.  Whilst most faceted bottles were made in glass, examples were also produced in agate and jade. Faceting in the West was, and is used, to show brilliance in glass, gems and crystal whereas the same effect was not sought after in the East because of the different inherent value placed on jade and hard stone.

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