Chinese Snuff Bottle Discussion Forum 中國鼻煙壺討論論壇

Hi All :

Whats your opinion on this small little bottle....

Its only H 2.5''x W 1.25''

(https://pix1.wikialbums.com/136823716022161236787724541532422521172321347897897197/6120617925524182422524515221419119235737213751434833/Photos/13096222618403000085063.jpg)

(https://pix1.wikialbums.com/136823716022161236787724541532422521172321347897897197/6120617925524182422524515221419119235737213751434833/Photos/13096222618651000049802.jpg)

Pin

Pin,

Looks to be a nice Burmese jade bottle.   Seems to have a typical shape of a number of late 18th to early 19th glass and plain stone bottles.  Given the natural occurring fissures and stone fractures my concern is that it is a lower quality stone.  Though I do like the contrast the fissures provide.
 
Two questions though,
1)   Is it well to very well hollowed? and 
2)   The darker fissures, is it the natural color of the stone or is it dirt, oils and grime?

Anyway a lovely looking bottle, Charll   

Hi Pin,

The shape of this bottle looks like a flattened flask form typical of the period mentioned by Charll. The 'green splashes on white' is one that has always appealed to me. The best quality examples usually sells at auction for far more than I am prepared to pay.

Yours has a series of natural fissures which, to me at least, detract from the pleasing green and white pattern. A mild de-greasing agent** might remove the darker lines, as I believe they are caused by grime from years of handling, which has settled in the cracks.

Tom

[** see Giovanni's excellent suggestion 3 posts down]

I like the bottle and glad Joey gave it a possible date..

When one or maybe two cracks like this are seen in early carved jade pieces, some label the lapidary lazy for persuing with the flawed stone.

I am with Joey on this piece though.. I think the use was intentional. Not sure what his vision was, but it really is pleasing to my eye.. Maybe tree branches with a touch of greenery ..

Interesting.......I never thought of it that way.

That could work for me, but I'd probably highlight the fissures by removing the grime and filling with black grisaille or even gold.

Dear George,
I do not see comments from Joey here. To what are you referring? I am not understanding the tree branches, are them referred to another bottle?
Dear Pin, nice bottle, very nice but I think that Charll is right, the natural cracks are suggesting that the former piece of jadeite is not of very good quality. The quality of hollowing is very important here. If the cracks are stained by handling, you should let the bottle immersed in water with an enzyme based detergent for some hours and then wash them with some pressure, may be the tap water is enough.
Kind regards
Giovanni

Dear Giovanni,

I think George meant Charll, not Joey. The fissures are 'branches' if you see the green splashes as leaves on a tree.

Regards,
Tom

Yes, meant Charll... No idea why I typed Joey !  ;)

Thank you dear Tom. I suspected that indeed, but since I didn't see a good connection between cracks and green spots, then I did ask.
Kind regards
Giovanni

Hi All.

     Personally, I don't like the fissures and would agree with Giovanni and Tom to try and clean them up, in order to let the 'pine branches in snow' (the poetic Chinese name for this type of white Jadeite with green inclusions) show up.

     Having said that, it does look a bit like the Literati conceit of 'artful artlessness', where a very well made bottle is produced from a 'cheap' or unregarded material. 

     Anyone feel like a poll, over whether one prefers the bottle 'as is' or 'cleaned up'?

     I agree with Charll's dating, based on what I can see on the thread.
Nice bottle, Pin. Congratulations,
Joey

Suppose that I would not clean the inclusions so as not to loose the branch effect, or "pine branches in snow" as Joey labeled it .

Dear George,

      Actually, 'pine branches in snow' refers just to the mix of white jadeite with green inclusions, but after your message below, I looked again at the bottle, and the fissures really do look like thick pine branches, with bits of green foliage!

     Now I am conflicted, as to whether it is more pleasing with or without the fissures cleaned and less noticeable.

    best,
Joey

Dear Joey,

Pin could clean out the grime using Giovanni's suggested method. If, after cleaning up the bottle, he doesn't like the look of it, he can easily 'get his branches back' by re-filling the fissures and cracks with black grisaille.

Or, as I proposed earlier, gold paste.

Tom

Dear Tom,
 
     Very good suggestions. I like the gold myself....
Best,
Joey

Dear Joey,

I thought you would...!!!   ;D

Tom

Thanks for all the suggestion.... I will try to clean it and see how it will turn out to be... ;D

Pin