Message #49439

[Rube]

Hi Everyone,

Because I haven't posted a bottle in awhile (like a few days) I'm sharing a malachite bottle with you on this thread.  Adrian, I like both of your bottles, especially the second!

My bottle, measuring 2 3/8",  is of tapered spade form with a slightly flared neck, and sitting on a splayed oval recessed foot rim.  I can identify the ruyi heads, but the rest of the carving I'm not sure about.  I mean, do the elongated c scrolls have symbolism?  Is this what is considered "archaistic"?

Until I pulled out the broken spoon, I would have guessed this to be an older bottle, but I found it to also not be super well hollowed.  As Bob Stevens wrote that contemporary malachite bottles were of darker material and not well hollowed, is this a correct assumption on my part?  It was purchased in 1952.

Also, I'd like to ask the group their thoughts about switching out the jade stopper with one made of lapis?  Thoughts?

Cheers,

Rube.