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A Moss Agate Bottle

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Author Topic: A Moss Agate Bottle  (Read 695 times)
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Wattana
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« on: July 08, 2014, 03:06:09 am »

This should really be posted under the 'Mongolian Snuff Bottles' thread where it properly belongs:
( http://snuffbottle.smfforfree.com/index.php/topic,2075.0.html ).

But I know that other forum members have a few moss agate bottles, so I'm starting a new thread for this attractive category of stone, in the hope that others will share.

This one was acquired in Ulaanbaatar on one of my visits there a few years ago. The predominant favourites locally appear to be vividly striated agates, so I did not see too many moss agates. The present example is unusually well and evenly hollowed, showing off the moss-like markings in the naturally semi-translucent material to good advantage. 

Description:
Moss agate snuff bottle of compressed ovoid form with a cylindrical neck and concave lip, resting on an oval foot with concave base, the translucent matrix suffused overall with grey-green dendritic inclusions; very well hollowed. Tall domed coral stopper with a gilt bronze collar. Notice that the stoppers in Mongolia rarely if ever use cork, the seal being effected by the use of fine twine wound around the top of the spoon shaft.

Height without stopper  6.4 cm

 




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« Last Edit: July 08, 2014, 05:53:21 am by Wattana » Report Spam   Logged

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« Reply #1 on: July 08, 2014, 07:55:51 am »

Nice Moss agate Tom..

Not sure where in the region they mine this..

Here is another translucent, creamy colored green Moss agate bottle to share...

 

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Wattana
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« Reply #2 on: July 08, 2014, 08:41:42 pm »

Lovely example George.

I like the fact that yours has ring handles. Thanks for sharing.
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Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司
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« Reply #3 on: July 08, 2014, 09:54:08 pm »

Both bottles are stunning.
Tom, that modern bottle would tempt me .
George, yours looks like a very fine 19th C. example, or possibly late 18th C.
Joey
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« Reply #4 on: October 16, 2014, 04:43:45 am »

I see it's about time we had another moss agate bottle on this thread....

Description:
Dendritic chalcedony (moss agate) snuff bottle of compressed bulbous form with cylindrical neck, concave lip, and a concave oval base, the bluish-grey dendritic inclusions evoking an abstract landscape scene. Pink tourmaline stopper set in a silver collar. Stained ivory spoon.
Height: 5.6 cm
Tentative dating: 1760-1880 
Provenance: Sotheby's 1997  

Commentary:
This is an unusual moss-agate in that while it is of the material that is suffused with thin green or blue threads of dendritic material which is normally quite evenly spread around, this example has the sort of pictorial appeal of the other variety of chalcedony with dark brown patches in paler beige (popularly referred to as 'silhouette agate'), which is usually more readily interpreted as representational subject-matter. Here several interpretations come to mind (depending on one's mood, and how much wine has been drunk). For me, a landscape design stands out.

Enjoy!


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« Last Edit: October 16, 2014, 04:51:24 am by Wattana » Report Spam   Logged

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« Reply #5 on: October 16, 2014, 07:51:14 am »

Dear Tom,
      Irrespective of one's imbibing alcohol, it looks like a landscape. Beautiful bottle!
Could I impose on anyone who has my 1987 catalogue, to post #33 for me here?
Thank you,
 Chag Sameach! (Happy Holy Day! it is the last day of our High Holy Day period.)
I fly tonight to Hong Kong via Istanbul, G-D Willing,
Joey
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« Reply #6 on: October 16, 2014, 08:11:39 am »

Dear Joey,
     Chag Sameach! And wishing you safe travels. Bon voyage.
     I have found number 33 in your catalogue, and will scan it at the office tomorrow for you.
All best,
Tom
« Last Edit: October 16, 2014, 08:16:16 am by Wattana » Report Spam   Logged

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« Reply #7 on: October 16, 2014, 08:20:50 am »

Dear Tom,
   I can't believe I'll finally get back to the Far East, after over 15 years away!
Could I impose on you or your wife (I don't know if you speak Thai) to call Penny Treembunroong (not sure I wrote her maiden name correctly, but her mother was lady in waiting to  HM Queen Sirikit), and let her know that I will be in Bangkok, 29.Oct. to 02.Nov.? She is a 'Mom Suriwongse', if that helps.
Thanks,
Joey


Dear Joey,
     Chag Sameach! And wishing you safe travels. Bon voyage.
All best,
Tom
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Joey Silver (Si Zhouyi 義周司), collecting snuff bottles since Feb.1970

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« Reply #8 on: October 16, 2014, 09:58:53 am »

Hi Joey,


Here is your Moss agate bottle.Smiley


* moss_joey.jpg (187.01 KB, 600x1014 - viewed 32 times.)
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« Reply #9 on: October 16, 2014, 10:25:15 am »

Dear Steven,
   Thank you!   Grin
Joey


Hi Joey,


Here is your Moss agate bottle.Smiley
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« Reply #10 on: October 16, 2014, 11:59:20 am »

Interesting and beautiful bottle indeed Tom..

Thank you for keeping this thread alive !
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« Reply #11 on: October 17, 2014, 01:17:38 am »

I have a sneaking suspicion I posted this one before, but cannot find it anywhere. So, apologies if I am inadvertently duplicating a post.

Description:
Semi-transparent moss agate with crystalline areas, of beige, brown and sage-green colours; of very well hollowed compressed ovoid form with a cylindrical neck, concave lip and a flat recessed oval foot, surrounded by a protruding rounded oval footrim; carved on each narrow side with mask and ring handles, the green dendritic markings suggesting a busy landscape scene of trees in a mountainous setting. Tourmaline stopper set in a gilt-silver collar.
Height w/o stopper:  5.1 cm
Tentative dating: 1730-1820
Provenance:  Victor Topper, Toronto, 1997

Commentary:
The stone in this example is of predominantly sage-green colour and with unusually even dendritic markings. Hugh Moss has described the carving on this bottle as representing ‘restrained genius’, within the context of the Chinese artistic capacity for understatement. Of perfect formal integrity and elegant form, the technical control is impeccable. It is restrained and very well hollowed, being one of the finer and more subtle examples I have come across of this common enough material. It ideally shows the appeal of this natural stone with its endlessly fascinating markings.
   


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« Last Edit: October 17, 2014, 01:24:07 am by Wattana » Report Spam   Logged

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« Reply #12 on: October 17, 2014, 02:50:01 am »

Dear Tom,
very nice bottles.
Dear Joey, it seems that moss agate bottles are always related to your trip to Far East Grin:
http://snuffbottle.smfforfree.com/index.php/topic,1488.0.html
Kind regards
Giovanni
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« Reply #13 on: October 17, 2014, 03:04:56 am »

Thank you dear Giovanni.
You are correct - Joey's trip to Far East appears to be related to moss agate bottles!   Cheesy

Tom
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« Reply #14 on: October 17, 2014, 05:23:34 am »

Pretty moss Tom !
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