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Pebbles

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richy88
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« on: September 27, 2013, 01:47:47 am »

Hi All

I understand that some of us are fans of snuff bottles in their natural shape. One the most common being the pebble. Therefore, this thread is devoted to bottle of pebble shape whether with carvings and decorations or just plain natural.

I will start will a natural pebble.

A small plain agate pebble of oval shape with natural concentric thumb print like design inclusions on both sides. The colours range from light brown to grey and white. Height without stopper: 35 mm.

Provenance: Clare Lawrence


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« Reply #1 on: September 27, 2013, 03:26:19 am »

Hi Richard,

I remember this one from when we last met. A real gem!

I am told that plain 'pebble' agate snuff bottles are relatively uncommon compared to nephrite jade pebbles. While jade pebbles are natural, or imitating a natural phenomenon found in river beds, agate pebbles are not. Agate rarely occurs in deposits which are shaped naturally by water erosion. Hence, most of the agate snuff bottles one sees are mined, then artificially shaped to imitate natural pebbles.

Tom
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« Reply #2 on: October 08, 2013, 02:11:23 am »

A plain agate pebble of oval shape with brown and white inclusions and dark markings near the bottom suggesting flying birds in a sunset scene.

The other side with contrasting bands of white and brown of various shades. Height: 60 mm.
 


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« Reply #3 on: October 08, 2013, 03:33:16 am »

Hi Richard,

Can you tell us the height of this bottle? It is not mentioned in the description.

Thanks,
Tom
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« Reply #4 on: October 08, 2013, 03:45:34 am »

Hi Tom

Sorry, missed that out.

It is 60 mm without the stopper. I have edited the post to include the height.

Thanks.


Richard
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« Reply #5 on: October 14, 2013, 01:11:29 am »

Here is another agate pebble bottle. As mentioned earlier, agates rarely form into pebbles naturally, so any bottles of this shape were probably made as a kind of intellectual play on their highly revered jade counterparts.

Agate pebble bottle of translucent, mottled honey-grey tone with paler grey-white and dark brown markings; of well hollowed, 'natural' pebble form; a concave depression on one side acting as an integral snuff dish.  Coral stopper carved as a budding twig, set in a bronze collar.  Height without stopper 4.6cm.



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« Reply #6 on: October 14, 2013, 02:35:09 am »

Now theres a real beauty !

Extran nice description as well.. !
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« Reply #7 on: October 14, 2013, 03:36:58 am »

Richard and Tom,

Very nice bottle indeed.

Inn Bok
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« Reply #8 on: October 14, 2013, 04:17:29 am »

Very cool one... like it a lot. I have one of these somewhere. Need to find pics.
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« Reply #9 on: October 14, 2013, 04:28:43 am »

George, Inn Bok and Pat,

Thanks for your encouraging feedback!

Tom
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« Reply #10 on: October 14, 2013, 07:33:04 am »

Dear Tom,
    The bottle in #5 is beautiful. It looks like a real pebble. What I don't like about most agate 'pebbles', is that they look like agate 'eggs'!
Joey
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« Reply #11 on: October 14, 2013, 09:40:19 pm »

Thanks Joey.
It feels like a pebble when handled too, except that it is quite light in weight due to the hollowing.

Tom

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« Reply #12 on: October 15, 2013, 01:53:46 pm »

Dear Tom,
I too like very much pebble shaped bottles. I have three glass pebbels, two imitating jade and one imitating a dark stone. All them has been posted here in teh Forum. I have a fourth one made of amber, but have not yet taken the pictures.
Congratulations for your nice bottles.
Giovanni
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« Reply #13 on: October 15, 2013, 10:15:05 pm »

Dear Giovanni,

Thank you for your comments.

Yes, I remember your glass 'pebbles' - they are old and not often seen in collections. I saw one in an auction recently which reminded me of your darker bottle. It was imitating amygdaloidal basalt, and dated to 1780-1850.

I look forward to seeing your amber pebble when you have time.

Tom
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« Reply #14 on: October 24, 2013, 02:07:56 am »

Hi All

This bottle has been posted in another separate thread but I am reposting it here for easy cross reference.

A well hollowed pebble shape white jade bottle of even translucent tone, carved with a monkey on the top left hand corner clinching to a pouch fastened with a ribbon/strap with the rebus, Dai Dai Feng Hou (代代封侯) meaning "May you (and your children) be a marquis for many generations". In Chinese and Dai (代) means generations and Hou is marquis (侯).

In Chinese, the word for pouch, Dai (袋) and ribbon/strap, Dai (带) has the same pronounciation as Dai (代) and monkey. Hou (猴) which sounds like marquis (侯). Hence, the design.

Enjoy!


Richard


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« Reply #15 on: October 24, 2013, 02:27:09 am »

Good idea Richard!

Thanks,

Tom
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« Reply #16 on: October 24, 2013, 08:39:23 am »

Dear Richard,
    Beautiful bottle, and a great way to learn more about Chinese Rebuses and symbolism.
Thank you,
Joey
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« Reply #17 on: October 24, 2013, 11:18:55 am »

Thanks for sharing the bottles and knowledge Richard!

I want to share another similar symbolism bottle which sold on ebay recently.

I should have placed a bid, but well, can't buy everything as Joey said.Smiley

a monkey and a bee carved on the top of the bottle. it could be a modern bottle, but very cute indeed.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FINE-CHINESE-JADE-SNUFF-BOTTLE-DECORATED-WITH-BUG-AND-MONKEY-19TH-CENTURY-/200975684013?nma=true&si=ha2nHZvmqU5ZmdtWmrvFUJNU6co%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Steven



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« Reply #18 on: October 25, 2013, 02:09:18 am »

Yes, very cute!   Cheesy
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« Reply #19 on: October 31, 2013, 12:19:34 am »

A greenish grey jade of pebble form decorated with a dragon chasing a pearl carved using the brownish inclusion on one side. The other side carved with a lotus leaf in low relief.
 


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Richard from sunny Singapore
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