Fossiliferous limestone; supported on a neatly carved foot rim with flat edges, the natural inclusions in the material suggestive of a flowering plant springing from a rocky cliff, with a of prey diving from the neck beneath the sun and misty mountains in the distance.
1780-1850
Height: 6.1cm
Provenance:
Robert Hall (1996)
Publications:
The Golden Autumn Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles by Robert Kleiner, no, 132
POA
Bottles made from varieties of fossiliferous hardstones were popular during the mid-Qing dynasty and the group with its distinctive patterns would have been associated with the Official class. This example is one of the most exciting in its use of Ink-play with a pine tree on one side and perhaps a pair of leaping dolphins on the reverse beneath a rocky bank. The final touch of genius in the shaping of the body resides in the tiny bird of prey just below the neck, diving towards the earth. The slightly broadened shoulders add to the impressive appearance of the bottle.