Bottle ID: 698

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SMOKY WITH RED NEEDLES

Date: 1750-1860

Height: 56 mm

Crystal, very well hollowed, of flattened rectangular form, with rounded shoulders sloping to a cylindrical neck and resting on a neatly carved oval footrim, the smoky grey stone suffused wuth an irregular natural design of brownish-red rutile needles.

Similar Examples:

Crane Collection no. 71.

Moss, Hugh, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang. A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles - The Mary and George Bloch Collection, 1998, Vol II, pp. 121-124, no. 225.
Moss, Hugh, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang. The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle - The J & J Collection, 1993, Vol. I, pp. 180-181, no. 100.

Provenance:

Cottone Auctions, NY. 3.23.13, lot 428 (part).

Rutile needles in crystal are fairly rare within the group of bottles known as "hair crystal", although the Crane Collection houses four very different examples. This bottle is of a more classical shape than the other three, more often seen in jade. It is an appealing shape which not only lends itself to visual attraction, but which fits snugly in the hand allowing the bottle to be admired for its tactile appeal also.

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