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

The first results of my new years resolution to buy better bottles. Not the best piece of macaroni agate but the best I have and they don't come up that often so it will do until I see a better one at an attractive price.

Macaroni agate of a circular, rounded form with a raised, bevelled base with mask and mock ring handles. Rectangular rounded coral inset in bronze stopper. Late 18th/19th Century ?

Regards, Adrian.

Dear Adrian,

      You post oblique shots which are not helpful (to me, at least) in giving an opinion.
Please shoot directly face on, onto the taotie, the base and add the mouth, again full on.
It does look like a nice bottle.
Best,
Joey

Dear Adrian-

Thanks for posting the pictures of your macaroni bottle.  I enjoy the colors a lot but I have alway preferred bottles where the "tubes" of macaroni are open where they meet the surface and you can see that they are tubular shape.  This, of course, is a personal observation of what type of stone appeals to my taste.  As I said, I do like the colors a lot.  I think they are somewhat unusual.  Is the bottle well hollowed?

Best wishes,
Rick

Dear Adrian-

When I looked at the photos of your bottle on my Thunderbolt monitor I can see yours does have the open tubes.  Congrats!

Rick

Dear Rick,

Thanks for your comments although I'm flattering my bottle by showing it's best side, the open tubes aren't so noticeable on the other side. It's well hollowed without being over hollowed, I don't know if hollowing more would lose some of the feel of it as a material.

Regards, Adrian.

Dear Joey,

As requested.

Regards, Adrian.

dear Adrian-

You hit the nail on the head when it comes to hollowing.  Too much would fade the colors and make the macaroni tubes less contrasting.  I have had a few examples of macaroni agate and the one that was very thinly hollowed lacked good contrast in to colors.  You want good hollowing in order to hold a good quantity of snuff but not so well hollowed that you loose the reason for using that stone.  Part of the charm of stone bottles is unusual patterns and colors of a particular stone plus the skill of the carver in bringing out the beauty of the stone.

Best wishes, Rick

Dear Aidan,
That's a beautiful bottle! I am fond of those made of stone. Rick, I'm new to this forum and am curious to know how one determines if a bottle is "well hollowed"? Is it a function of weight or must one inspect the inside in trying to make this determination?

Cheers,


Rheuben

Hi Adrian,

I really like your macaroni agate bottle. The colors are so pleasing. Good for you! Nice bottle, good find.

Best,

Toni-Lee

Dear Adrian,
 
    AH! Now I can comment! ;D 
In my opinion, this is a very nice example ca. 1820-1860, and the taotie are very well done and pleasing.
Beautiful bottle! And I agree with Rick about the pleasing colours and the 'open' tubes.
Well done.
Best,
Joey

Thank you all for your comments.

Macaroni agate has been on my wish list since I got Bob Stevens book and first saw one. The taotie don't photograph well and look better in real life but since Tom posted his fossiliferous limestone bottle with it's beautiful handles mine feel somewhat second rate.

Rheuben,

Well hollowed is not just about removing material from inside the bottle, attention to detail in leaving a smooth surface is important as well. It's very hard to do without damaging the opening in the bottle, I know I've tried.

Regards, Adrian.

Dear Adrian,

    For an agate, your taotie are very acceptable. I would certainly rate them as fine.
You can't compare the carving in different materials. The best carving is in ivory, and next to the taotie on a carved ivory SB, Tom's bottle's taotie would not compare.
It's all relative, as Einstein would say...  ;D ::)
Best,
Joey

Hi Adrian,

While not the most typical colouring for a macaroni agate snuff bottle, I do like the darker tones on yours. I also like the way the 'macaroni tubes' are grouped in trails, offering a number of interesting landscape interpretations in my mind's eye. Congratulations!

As for the taotie mask handles and dating, I agree with Joey's comments.

Tom

Nice bottle. Like it a lot! Saw this auction in the UK come up and there were a few other what seemed like older bottles in there too. Congrats!

Hi Luke,

It first came up before Christmas with a group of good quality bottles from a local deceased estate, (it's quite a wealthy area) at a higher estimate and on the day I left to go on holiday so I held back then. A few bottles were passed and re-auctioned with lower estimates which was lucky for me as this was one I had my eye on.

I also bought 2 moss agates from the same estate at the same time. I'll post one as I don't think it really qualifies as moss agate and is an unusual shape. The other moss agate was unloved by everyone but me and came at a price where it would have been rude not too.

Regards, Adrian.