Bats Snuff Bottle

B38

Chalcedony, pale grey with russet inclusions carved with bats in flight, the narrow sides carved with mask and ring handles, the bottle of rounded bulbous form carved with a raised oval foot rim.

Chinese, 1750 - 1860
Stopper: pale amethyst with horn collar
Provenance: Hugh Moss Ltd, 1973
Height: 6cm

This well hollowed agate has small, irregular honeycomb patterns inside. These are created by the labour intensive process of rubbing paddles coated in abrasives on the inside (after the initial drilling had removed the central bulk). The temptation to include the small russet areas to the lower right hand side within a large and showy subject was suppressed in favour of this charming treatment that is of lasting intrigue.