Message #43617

[Wattana]

Hi Cathy,

These are nicely carved bottles.  Since the Suzhou area near Shanghai is considered to be where the best stone carving workshops were and still are located, they may well be from that region. However, they are not what most collectors would describe as "Shuzhou" bottles, and, in my opinion, are fairly modern (that is to say 1980s onwards).

The specific traits of "Suzhou" bottles (and indeed all small carved objects) are hard to define in words. For a start, EVERY one of the natural markings is used and carved into something. Conversely, areas devoid of markings are left untouched, or carved in relatively light relief, as a painter might use a pale wash to indicate mountains in the distance. Additionally, the subject matter is always carved in raised relief. The intaglio effect seen on your first two bottles (i.e. the focal area set down below the general plane of the surroundings) is very rarely seen on older bottles. This is a commonly used modern technique.

Hugh Moss's book "Snuff Bottles of the Quartz or Silica Group" (Bibelot, London, 1971) gives a reasonably precise summary of the features which characterize "Suzhou". But you really have to see and handle a few examples to appreciate the difference.

Anyway, having said all that, if your three bottles are well hollowed and feel good in the hand, I think they are worthy additions to your collection.

Tom