chine Agate / translucent chalcedony called “shadow...

Elegant Chinese snuff bottle in shadow agate, Qing Dynasty, datable from the late 18th century to the first half of the 19th century, around 1780–1850. The bottle is carved from a beautiful translucent chalcedony in honey, amber and pink-beige tones. One of the faces is animated by a notable natural brown-black inclusion whose silhouette evokes an abstract ink painting. The lapidary has chosen to let this natural mineral formation play the leading role in the decoration, creating a particularly evocative and meditative composition. The form is compact and harmoniously flattened, with rounded shoulders and a straight cylindrical neck. The soft, glossy polish greatly enhances the depth and translucency of the stone. The snuff bottle retains its coral stopper mounted in gilded bronze as well as its spoon. Particularly interesting provenance: former Charles Cartier-Bresson Collection (1852–1921), France. An old handwritten label “CCB / 1.041” is still present under the base. Charles Cartier-Bresson, an important French collector of Asian art, personally numbered the pieces in his collection using small labels corresponding to his manuscript catalogue. A neighboring number, CCB / 1.034, is today documented in French public collections, which confirms the coherence of this inventory system. The precise date of entry of the present bottle into the collection remains unknown, but the Cartier-Bresson provenance constitutes a solid historical pedigree. Dimensions: 5 × 3.5 × 2 cm. Weight: 51 g. Overall good condition for its age, with some small ancient irregularities and natural characteristics of the stone. A detailed certificate of examination accompanies the lot. video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/nw91au4o39fneqxvm0lr6/AEl24QnWeeKYYkrPLAhDofo?rlkey=p7mm9325lq6rl6io3hd3huw9p&dl=0

Estimation:€3,200

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