Vintage 1970s Green Picture Jasper Snuff Bottle

Details

Description

Green Picture Jasper or Rainforest jasper is a type of Rhyolite and is also known as Australian Rainforest Jasper or … Read more Green Picture Jasper or Rainforest jasper is a type of Rhyolite and is also known as Australian Rainforest Jasper or Rainforest Rhyolite. It has the properties of bright, intense colors and a smooth shiny polish. It is formed from volcanic activity which fused quartz, feldspar and nepheline together. The name Rainforest jasper, is a commercial and not a scientific name and not related to rainforest environment. It is so called because of this variety of rhyolite resembles rainforest vegetation. It is found in New Zealand, Australia, Spain, Germany, Ireland, India, China and the United States. While we do not know where this bottle originated, we do know it is carved in the 20th century, where snuff bottle carvers ventured to make bottles out of colorful stones from abroad as well as those found locally.

The bottle is of a flattened globular form that slightly tapers to a small raised oval foot. The straight neck that sits on rounded shoulders has a flat top, and is matched with a dark green adventurine stopper with a black collar. It is more hollow than what is expected of a 20th century bottle.
This interesting and unusual bottle among others was collected by an Englishman who served in the Far East in Her Majesty Royal Navy in the 1970's. While on leave he would hunt for snuff bottles in the Asian markets. See less