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Chinese Snuff Bottle Discussion Forum 中國鼻煙壺討論論壇
March 29, 2024, 07:42:36 am
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Opal Snuff Bottle

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Author Topic: Opal Snuff Bottle  (Read 2117 times)
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« Reply #20 on: February 02, 2017, 07:04:53 am »

Well, I have another opal bottle to share. This one is 2 1/4 inches tall and well hollowed. Once again, I bought it for the "fire". It was described as "black opal". I don't know if it is opal matrix, or black opal? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Regards,

Toni-Lee


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« Reply #21 on: February 02, 2017, 07:07:32 am »

Inn,

Thank you for your compliments. I really appreciate it.

Regards,

Toni-Lee
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« Reply #22 on: February 02, 2017, 11:16:52 am »

Toni-Lee,

Another stunning opal bottle! I have heard this described as black opal too. But who cares - that blue-green fire is mesmerizing - and I'm only looking at the photos! I can imagine what it is like in the hand.

Tom
« Last Edit: February 02, 2017, 11:22:01 am by Wattana » Report Spam   Logged

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Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司
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« Reply #23 on: February 02, 2017, 01:00:36 pm »

Dear Toni-Lee,

      I agree with Tom. As a snuff bottle, it is not important. But as an Opal, it is gorgeous.
Thank you for posting.
Best,
Joey
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« Reply #24 on: February 02, 2017, 03:36:23 pm »

Hi Toni-Lee

That really is  an amazing  bottle !  I have always  loved  opal

I  would  like to know how  you  bought it and how  much you paid for  it, if you  don't mind telling me please.

You can reply by  private message if  you prefer

Cheers
Peter
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« Reply #25 on: February 02, 2017, 04:26:12 pm »

Hi Peter,

I assume you are talking about the last opal bottle I posted.  I probably bought this around 1979. It was part of a lot of three bottles that I bought from a shop in California and I can't recall what I paid, but if I had to guess it was no more than $120.00 for the lot. Those were the days!  Thanks for your comments.

Best,

Toni-Lee
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« Reply #26 on: February 02, 2017, 07:02:52 pm »

Another really nice grade of opal.. !
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« Reply #27 on: February 02, 2017, 07:42:33 pm »

Stunning!
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« Reply #28 on: February 02, 2017, 07:44:46 pm »

Toni-Lee

These are superb bottles ... wow. Congrats !
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Pat
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« Reply #29 on: February 02, 2017, 10:03:58 pm »


 Those were the days! 


Hi Toni-Lee,

You are absolutley correct. As the Mary Hopkins song goes....
"Those were the days my friend...!"   Cheesy

Tom
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« Reply #30 on: February 03, 2017, 10:28:45 am »

Guys,

    About 20 years ago, Clare Chu (then Clare Lawrence) and I were shmoozing at a convention. It was in Hong Kong, at the HK half of the 1996 Beijing/HK ICSBS convention.  After doing 'retail therapy' at Shanghai Tang, among a lot of other shops, on a free afternoon, we were having Afternoon Tea at the Mandarin in Central with Sara Venning, who then worked for Clare.

    Clare suggested then, that in 40 or 50 years, WE would be the 'oldsters' at the convention, talking about when we'd been a lot younger how cheap bottles had been, at 'ONLY'  US$5,000-10,000 for a great white Nephrite Jade; or 'only' US$15,000 for a great Zhou Leyuan!  Etc.

    Hearing Toni's prices, I am reminded of it.  Grin Wink Shocked
If I'd only known then what I know now, I would have had the greatest collection for relatively low outlay. Ah, 20/20 hindsight...   Roll Eyes Grin
But I can't complain, either.

    Best,

Shabbat Shalom,
Joey
« Last Edit: June 10, 2019, 05:15:47 pm by Joey » Report Spam   Logged

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« Reply #31 on: June 07, 2019, 10:08:24 pm »

Hi All

While searching for some information from some older posts, I stumbled across this thread.

Interestingly, I too have a few opal bottles that are quite unique. Although they are new bottles, the material and the carving interest me a lot.

The first one is a 'normal' flat bottle carved with a dragon among clouds. From a coll

The second one is a black opal bottle carved using the impurities in the stone with branches of flowers in high relief.

However, the photo is unable to capture the opal iridescence display fully. Thus, I have also captured a video clip of the bottle using a 360-degree rotation to display the bottle to fully appreciate its beauty. Unfortunately, the video file is too big to be attached in the forum, even after compressing. Anyone interested can send me a request by private mail.

The third is a fire opal which differs greatly from the first plain opal bottle, especially the side carved with the dragon. Its light brownish tone background with purple and orange hue iridescences are obvious. The other side carved with a phoenix.

Enjoy!


Richard



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« Reply #32 on: June 08, 2019, 01:34:06 am »

Hi Richard,
Impressive carving on all three bottles, especially the black opal one.
But from a functional viewpoint I like the last one most, the fire opal, as it would fit into my pocket more easily than the first two!
Regards,
Tom
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« Reply #33 on: June 08, 2019, 01:50:49 am »

Hi Tom

I agreed.

By the way, your opal bottle looks like black opal too.


Richard
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« Reply #34 on: June 17, 2019, 06:49:12 pm »

Hi Tom,

I’m a little late to the party, but I really enjoyed seeing your bottles. I especially like the black opals.  I enjoy the opal material, old or new!  Very lovely bottles.

Best regards,

Toni-Lee
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« Reply #35 on: June 20, 2019, 03:38:53 am »

Thanks Toni-Lee,

I'd forgotten all about my post until Richard mentioned it.

I was told when I bought my 'black opal' bottle that the correct term for this material is boulder opal.
The brownish-black matrix is mostly made up of a non-opal conglomerate, which has 'seams' of opal running through it. One such seam was utilized by the lapidary to create the dragon. Whether black opal or not, I love the effect.

Regards,
Tom
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