Vintage Picture Agate Snuff Bottle

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Kudos to the carver who successfully presented an underwater scene in this snuff bottle. The material is agate, a form … Read more Kudos to the carver who successfully presented an underwater scene in this snuff bottle. The material is agate, a form of chalcedony, a mineral in the quartz family, known for its hardness, many colors and with beautiful swirling patterns. This bottle is of a transparent beige color, with a few swirling black lines and on the base is layers of white which resemble rocks under a layer of black masses. The bottle is of flattened globular shape which tapers to a short raised oval foot. The top is flat and the stopper is a light brown agate on a black disk.

This is one of the bottles I purchased from an English collector who was with the British Navy in the 1970's. On his leave, he sourced for snuff bottles all over Asia. That was the time when China opened up for trade after the Cultural Revolution, and many snuff bottles were made by experienced snuff bottle carvers. Snuff bottles from this period were of many varieties and all beautifully presented. See less