19th Century Carved Jet Chinese Snuff Bottle
I like to use the term "opaque" to best aid in describing the black appearance. As it reminds me very much of the Shantong artist's overlay bottles they purchased from Boshan glass shops for their inside painted works. It feels very much like the lacquer overlay on those bottles.
So.., opaque black Jet decoratively carved from just below the shoulder, and extending to foot rim, cylindrical "hard" as compared to "soft jet" bottle tapering slightly to the rounded shoulder with short neck. Which for lack of a better description seems almost a signature form for other Jet bottles, as well as similar formed, and carved glass bottles in overlay, ranging from 1780 to 1850. Raised narrow foot rim with recessed base. 2.65 inches tall, 1.12 inches (2.8cm) diameter, and a light 33 grams. Although I am leaning towards this bottle being Early to Mid 19th rather than 18th. The bottle is very light, so it made perfect sense to me that the carver left the lower 1/4 of the bottle non hollowed in order to give this light bottle at least a little weight at the base to keep a soft breeze from blowing it over! The walls are carved thinner than any bottle I have ever handled.. All the way up and completely into the corner of the shoulder.
The carving includes scholar and apprentice crossing bridge, and also what appears to be an acrobat and or child dancing. With dragon rising from the waters below, and what I believe are chrysanthemums at top.
To see more pics, and learn about the organic composition of this rare Jet material, visit the forum discussion at http://snuffbottle.smfforfree.com/index.php/topic,1367.msg39705.html#msg39705
I like to use the term "opaque" to best aid in describing the black appearance. As it reminds me very much of the Shantong artist's overlay bottles they purchased from Boshan glass shops for their inside painted works. It feels very much like the lacquer overlay on those bottles.
So.., opaque black Jet decoratively carved from just below the shoulder, and extending to foot rim, cylindrical "hard" as compared to "soft jet" bottle tapering slightly to the rounded shoulder with short neck. Which for lack of a better description seems almost a signature form for other Jet bottles, as well as similar formed, and carved glass bottles in overlay, ranging from 1780 to 1850. Raised narrow foot rim with recessed base. 2.65 inches tall, 1.12 inches (2.8cm) diameter, and a light 33 grams. Although I am leaning towards this bottle being Early to Mid 19th rather than 18th. The bottle is very light, so it made perfect sense to me that the carver left the lower 1/4 of the bottle non hollowed in order to give this light bottle at least a little weight at the base to keep a soft breeze from blowing it over! The walls are carved thinner than any bottle I have ever handled.. All the way up and completely into the corner of the shoulder.
The carving includes scholar and apprentice crossing bridge, and also what appears to be an acrobat and or child dancing. With dragon rising from the waters below, and what I believe are chrysanthemums at top.
To see more pics, and learn about the organic composition of this rare Jet material, visit the forum discussion at http://snuffbottle.smfforfree.com/index.php/topic,1367.msg39705.html#msg39705
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