A PUDDINGSTONE SNUFF BOTTLE, QING DYNASTYPublished: Bob Stevens, The Collector’s Book of Snuff Bottles, Weatherhill, 1976, pages 166-167, no. 620.China, 1750-1850. Of rounded rectangular form, supported on a short oval foot ring, surmounted by a cylindrical neck with flat rim. The opaque stone of a gray color suffused primarily with ovoid pebbles of olive, ochre, brown, and russet.Provenance: British trade. An inventory number’ 037/0401’ lacquered to the base.Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, few small nibbles to edges, a minuscule nick to the lip, light surface scratches, the stopper with minuscule nicks and light scratches. The stone with a natural fissure.Stopper: Rose quartz. Note that the stopper has been replaced since the publication of the bottle in the Stevens book.Weight: 78.4 gDimensions: Height incl. stopper 63 mm, Diameter neck 19 mm and mouth 8 mmPuddingstone is the general term for a conglomerate of sedimentary flint pebbles in a matrix of chert – both part of the quartz family. Bottles carved from this striking materiale in a wide variety of colors, textures, sizes, and shapes. The stone’s appearance is not dissimilar to plum pudding, from which it derives its name. The variation in size of the pebbles sets up an attractive counterpoint to the beige matrix, and thebination of shapes and sizes creates a strong design thatpliments the simple and tactile form.Auction resultparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 25 November 2013, lot 87Price: HKD 62,500 or approx.EUR 9,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A puddingstone snuff bottle, Qing dynasty, late 18th/19th centuryExpert remark:pare the related form and color of the stone. Note the size (77 mm).Auction resultparison:Type: Closely relatedAuction: Christie’s New York, 13 September 2017, lot 235Price: USD 11,250 or approx.EUR 13,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writingDescription: A puddingstone snuff bottle, 1760-1850Expert remark:pare the related form, color of the stone, and size (66 mm). Note the mask ring handles.清代抱子石鼻烟壺中國，1750-1850年。扁平長方，圓角，直頸，圈足。質地細潤，打磨光滑，褐、白、黑等色穿插，通體光素，未施琢任何紋飾，純以石質本身天然紋理取勝。出版：Bob Stevens，The Collectors Book of Snuff Bottles，Weatherhill，1976年，第166-167頁，圖620。