B43

Chalcedony, pale beige colour with a mottled, yellow-ochre skin carved with a scene of two sages meeting by a gnarled tree; the well hollowed bottle of rounded bulbous form.

Chinese, 1750 - 1860
Stopper: coral mounted on metal collar
Provenance: Estelle Chapman, London, 1973
Height: 6.2cm

The restrictions of the natural materials that were used for hard stone snuff bottles were very often the catalyst to inspire the artist, however it is these restrictions sometimes that add character to a work, especially in a case such as this when the natural markings are rather vague. This admirably portrays these two wise old men meeting by an old tree conjuring an image of security and warmth of our later years.