chine Banded agate / chalcedony cameo-carved Qing-era snuff bottle in banded agate, cameo-carved, “Monkey on Horse” – provenance: John Sparks - 6.8 cm
12
days
08
hours
31
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Current bid
€ 301
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 3,100 - € 3,700
 | €301 | |
|---|---|---|
| €280 | |
| €260 | |
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Qing dynasty snuff bottle in banded agate carved as a camée, depicting a monkey on horseback under a pine, circa 1780–1850, 6.8 × 4.8 × 3.1 cm, 85 g, with provenance from John Sparks and the Sir David and Lady Scholey collection; coral stopper and generally good condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Beautiful Chinese banded agate snuff bottle carved in cameos, Qing dynasty, circa 1780-1850, from the old collection of Sir David and Lady Scholey and still bearing its historical label John Sparks Ltd, London.
Globular flattened in shape, the bottle is carved from a particularly decorative translucent agate, traversed by natural gray-brown, cream and white bands. The lapidary intelligently exploited a superficial honey-caramel color layer to make the main decorative motif appear in relief, in the refined technique of cameo-carved agates.
One face represents a monkey mounted on a horse beneath a pine tree. This scene belongs to the auspicious Chinese repertoire and refers to the famous rebus Ma shang feng hou, expressing the wish for a rapid promotion to a high rank. The pine completes the composition with its traditional symbolism of longevity and constancy.
The sculpture is particularly interesting for its use of the stone’s different natural layers: the monkey, the horse, the trunk and branches of the pine emerge from the caramel layer, while the lighter areas of the agate naturally form the background of the scene.
The bottle stylistically belongs to the great Qing tradition of cameo-carved agates, sometimes grouped in specialized literature with the former designation “Official School.”
Provenance is an important additional point of interest. The piece belonged to the Sir David and Lady Scholey collection and still retains under its base the old John Sparks Ltd label, 128 Mount Street, London, one of Britain’s great historical Chinese art dealers.
Old stopper attributed to coral. The bottle is in generally good condition considering its age. Some small signs of use are present; the stopper’s spoon/feather is broken, as clearly visible in the photographs.
China – Qing Dynasty, circa 1780-1850.
Banded agate carved in cameo.
Dimensions: 6.8 × 4.8 × 3.1 cm.
Weight: 85 g.
video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/fxiaxayifg7pxtbhuwkud/ABvrI9A7FqV3ELmgKvaLDKs?rlkey=oj5xy5yrxm1dxqrynk2wfma4x&dl=0
Seller's Story
MIMOSA SA — EXPERTISE, RESEARCH AND TRANSMISSION
For more than 26 years, I have been working as an art dealer specializing in ancient Asian arts. My work is not simply to offer objects: it is to observe them, to understand them, to study them and to document them before passing them to a new collector.
Each work presented by Mimosa SA undergoes thorough examination. Depending on its nature, this study may concern the iconography, the style, the proportions, the material, the execution techniques, surface traces, patina, the condition, restorations, provenance as well as relevant bibliographic, museum or archaeological comparisons. When justified, additional scientific analyses may also be undertaken.
Our approach rests on the experience of sight, gained from direct contact with the works for over two decades, but also on methodical and constantly renewed research. We always favor a cautious, coherent and argued attribution rather than a seductive but insufficiently substantiated assertion.
Transparency is at the heart of our approach. The wear, gaps, accidents, ancient restorations or more recent interventions are reported as precisely as possible. When an attribution carries uncertainty or remains a working hypothesis, it is clearly presented as such.
Present on Catawiki since 2016, we have chosen to maintain a regular selection of works there in order to meet international collectors who value authenticity, knowledge and quality of documentation.
Each acquisition is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued under our professional responsibility. For the most important works, this certificate takes the form of a genuine study dossier gathering the main technical, stylistic, iconographic, historical and bibliographic observations made during our research.
The same standard applies to shipping. Over the years, we have developed a packaging method adapted to old, fragile, heavy or complex-shaped objects. Each work is protected, immobilized and carefully packaged, according to its material and its particularities. The shipping costs correspond to the real needs for protection, handling, insurance and secure transport. Shipping is never regarded as a source of commercial profit.
Acquiring a work from Mimosa SA is to receive a selected, studied, described, documented and prepared object with the same care that we would wish for a work destined for our own collection.
Translated by Google TranslateBeautiful Chinese banded agate snuff bottle carved in cameos, Qing dynasty, circa 1780-1850, from the old collection of Sir David and Lady Scholey and still bearing its historical label John Sparks Ltd, London.
Globular flattened in shape, the bottle is carved from a particularly decorative translucent agate, traversed by natural gray-brown, cream and white bands. The lapidary intelligently exploited a superficial honey-caramel color layer to make the main decorative motif appear in relief, in the refined technique of cameo-carved agates.
One face represents a monkey mounted on a horse beneath a pine tree. This scene belongs to the auspicious Chinese repertoire and refers to the famous rebus Ma shang feng hou, expressing the wish for a rapid promotion to a high rank. The pine completes the composition with its traditional symbolism of longevity and constancy.
The sculpture is particularly interesting for its use of the stone’s different natural layers: the monkey, the horse, the trunk and branches of the pine emerge from the caramel layer, while the lighter areas of the agate naturally form the background of the scene.
The bottle stylistically belongs to the great Qing tradition of cameo-carved agates, sometimes grouped in specialized literature with the former designation “Official School.”
Provenance is an important additional point of interest. The piece belonged to the Sir David and Lady Scholey collection and still retains under its base the old John Sparks Ltd label, 128 Mount Street, London, one of Britain’s great historical Chinese art dealers.
Old stopper attributed to coral. The bottle is in generally good condition considering its age. Some small signs of use are present; the stopper’s spoon/feather is broken, as clearly visible in the photographs.
China – Qing Dynasty, circa 1780-1850.
Banded agate carved in cameo.
Dimensions: 6.8 × 4.8 × 3.1 cm.
Weight: 85 g.
video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/fxiaxayifg7pxtbhuwkud/ABvrI9A7FqV3ELmgKvaLDKs?rlkey=oj5xy5yrxm1dxqrynk2wfma4x&dl=0
Seller's Story
MIMOSA SA — EXPERTISE, RESEARCH AND TRANSMISSION
For more than 26 years, I have been working as an art dealer specializing in ancient Asian arts. My work is not simply to offer objects: it is to observe them, to understand them, to study them and to document them before passing them to a new collector.
Each work presented by Mimosa SA undergoes thorough examination. Depending on its nature, this study may concern the iconography, the style, the proportions, the material, the execution techniques, surface traces, patina, the condition, restorations, provenance as well as relevant bibliographic, museum or archaeological comparisons. When justified, additional scientific analyses may also be undertaken.
Our approach rests on the experience of sight, gained from direct contact with the works for over two decades, but also on methodical and constantly renewed research. We always favor a cautious, coherent and argued attribution rather than a seductive but insufficiently substantiated assertion.
Transparency is at the heart of our approach. The wear, gaps, accidents, ancient restorations or more recent interventions are reported as precisely as possible. When an attribution carries uncertainty or remains a working hypothesis, it is clearly presented as such.
Present on Catawiki since 2016, we have chosen to maintain a regular selection of works there in order to meet international collectors who value authenticity, knowledge and quality of documentation.
Each acquisition is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued under our professional responsibility. For the most important works, this certificate takes the form of a genuine study dossier gathering the main technical, stylistic, iconographic, historical and bibliographic observations made during our research.
The same standard applies to shipping. Over the years, we have developed a packaging method adapted to old, fragile, heavy or complex-shaped objects. Each work is protected, immobilized and carefully packaged, according to its material and its particularities. The shipping costs correspond to the real needs for protection, handling, insurance and secure transport. Shipping is never regarded as a source of commercial profit.
Acquiring a work from Mimosa SA is to receive a selected, studied, described, documented and prepared object with the same care that we would wish for a work destined for our own collection.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Culture
chine
Century/timeframe
Fin XVIIIe – première moitié du XIXe siècle | vers 1780–1850
Name of object
Qing-era snuff bottle in banded agate, cameo-carved, “Monkey on Horse” – provenance: John Sparks
Acquired from
Auction house
Year acquired
2021
Material
Banded agate / chalcedony cameo-carved
Country acquired from
Austria
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Private collection
Height
6.8 cm
Previous owner - year acquired
2000
Width
4.8 cm
Previous owner - country acquired from
United Kingdom
Depth
3.1 cm
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
