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2 realgar snuff bottles

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Author Topic: 2 realgar snuff bottles  (Read 4356 times)
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Steven
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« on: September 03, 2016, 08:14:08 pm »

I have not seen anyone share Realgar bottles on our forum, I think it might be a good start to share some of them.Smiley

Here are 2 Realgar bottles I acquired a while back.

the small one is 2.25 inch high,the big one is 2.75 inch high.

Any comments are welcome.

Steven


* IMG_4291l.jpg (210.94 KB, 800x513 - viewed 133 times.)

* IMG_4293.jpg (145.51 KB, 800x324 - viewed 82 times.)

* IMG_4294.jpg (108.75 KB, 800x268 - viewed 78 times.)
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cshapiro
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« Reply #1 on: September 03, 2016, 08:29:37 pm »

Georgeous!!!  The side lines make me wonder how they did this. Do you think the red is an overlay?
« Last Edit: September 03, 2016, 08:32:36 pm by cshapiro » Report Spam   Logged

Cathy
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« Reply #2 on: September 03, 2016, 08:32:43 pm »

Two of the finest realgar bottles I have seen Steven !  I can not even choose a favorite between the two..

Really exceptional examples .. !

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Steven
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« Reply #3 on: September 03, 2016, 09:11:47 pm »

Thanks Cathy and George!

-Cathy, I don't know how the side line was made, I believe there are a few of different layers and different colors glass mixed and blended together. but I really don't know why the side line is quite obvious, I guess its not a accident.Smiley

Steven
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Pat - 查尚杰
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« Reply #4 on: September 04, 2016, 05:55:43 am »

Beautiful bottles Steven ! Wow
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Best Regards

Pat
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« Reply #5 on: September 04, 2016, 07:45:44 am »

Really great examples. Thanks for sharing them.
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Wattana
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« Reply #6 on: September 04, 2016, 07:54:14 am »

Wonderful examples Steven!

This type of bottle is quite sought after at auctions. I have never found one at an attractive enough price to buy.

Tom
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Steven
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« Reply #7 on: February 08, 2017, 08:17:57 pm »

Thanks all for your kind words.Smiley Which make me looking after more realgar bottles. Cheesy

Here comes another one. more yellow tone rather than red tone which still very attractive the rich.

Any comments will be appreciated as usual.

Best,

Steven


* xionghuang1.jpg (189.06 KB, 900x1195 - viewed 59 times.)

* xionghuang2.jpg (179.32 KB, 900x1261 - viewed 30 times.)

* xionghuang3.jpg (455.38 KB, 900x1096 - viewed 81 times.)

* xionghuang4.jpg (163.35 KB, 900x909 - viewed 43 times.)
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« Reply #8 on: February 08, 2017, 08:26:49 pm »

Hmm. very nice.  Congrats !
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Pat
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« Reply #9 on: February 08, 2017, 08:33:24 pm »

Hi Steven,

Your bottles are just beautiful! I absolutely love them. Thank you for sharing them. What a treat.


Best,

Toni-Lee
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« Reply #10 on: February 08, 2017, 09:05:34 pm »

My goodness !  Outstanding bottles !!
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« Reply #11 on: February 08, 2017, 09:20:19 pm »

Very nice Steven.  My example is much like your first two examples.  I really do like this last one that you posted with more of the yellow tones with a touch of red.  If I am remembering correctly,  the mineral realgar is poisonous and was not  typically used in snuff bottles, however, glass made to imitate realgar was used.  So I am thinking most likely your bottles like mine are glass made to imitate realgar. 
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« Reply #12 on: February 08, 2017, 09:52:03 pm »

Hi Steven,
    Great bottle! I like this latest one more that the two earlier ones. Somehow the yellow appeals more than the red. 

Hi Jo,
    Yes, realgar is definitely poisonous, so was NEVER used for snuff bottles. It would not only be highly risky for a craftsman to work with the material, anyone foolish enough to use it for his snuff would be guaranteed a short life! The attraction to making lookalikes is realgar's association with Chinese alchemy and metaphysics and hence its Daoist implications. Maybe one of our Chinese members can elaborate on that.

Tom
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« Reply #13 on: February 09, 2017, 02:55:32 pm »

Dear Steven,
congratulations; this type of bottles is on the top of my wanted list but up to now I have not been able to find one example.
Kind regards
Giovanni
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« Reply #14 on: February 09, 2017, 04:08:10 pm »

Thanks all for your kind comments! Cheesy Cheesy

Dear Jo,

Yes, those are all glass imitating realgar, not the real realgar. As Tom mentioned realgar is poisonous altho in China it can be used as medicine. But I don't think  people will like it to be used as a snuff bottle material.

In chinese,  realgar is called 雄黄 xiong hang , while the emperor(皇,huang) sound the same as 黄 huang. Also realgar has the smell which can repel the sneak, so realgar is consider to be able to repel the evil. maybe that is why they are highly sought by the collectors.Smiley

Dear Tom, Yes, you are right . realgar is associate with alchemy, the taoist used it to make the medicine.

Dear Giovanni, Keep you eyes open all the time, we sure you will find some examples in near future, realgar bottle is not that hard to be found.Smiley

Steven



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« Reply #15 on: February 09, 2017, 04:54:00 pm »

Hi Stephen,

Lovely bottle as I also love these realgar bottles but my real preference is for the other two red ones you've shown and Joe's red one as well.

I have what was billed as a realgar bottle but as the colour is a very dull red mixed with brownish green which isn't even symmetrical I'll spare the forum a picture.

Regards, Adrian.
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Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司
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« Reply #16 on: February 09, 2017, 05:18:40 pm »

Dear Steven,
 
     All three are very good; the first two are ca. 1780-1860, and top quality.
The third, with that indented oval footrim, is ca.1750-1800 and Imperial Palace Workshops.
I have one in the same shape and footrim, but in colour like the one on the right in your first post.

 Your IPW example compares well to the carved Realgar glass  #22 in my 1987 catalogue.

   To give you an idea re.prices: Bottles like the first two you posted, used to sell for US$75 to US$100 in the 1970s. In Nov. 1981 in Honolulu (during the ICSBS convention), I paid US$225 for the plain one I kept.

Best,
Joey
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« Reply #17 on: February 10, 2017, 04:36:50 am »

Hi,

Can you say to me why some of these bottles have a footrim and others d'ont have it?
It's a thing that I'm thinking always when i see a snuff bottle.

Thanks,
Albert.
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« Reply #18 on: February 10, 2017, 10:44:36 am »

Dear Albert,

     It depends on the style and on the quality.
With some bottles you find a raised foot-rim; with others, an indented foot, slightly concave; with yet others, a flat foot; and the finest tend to have an oval indentation cut about 1 mm into the base, but not visible when the bottle is standing.
Best,
Joey
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« Reply #19 on: February 10, 2017, 10:47:49 am »

Thanks Joey!
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