A SILHOUETTE AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE

superbly hollowed, of rounded square form resting on an oval concave base, the stone of translucent pale gray tone with dark brown inclusions, cut and polished on one side to depict two birds, the bird in the back perched, like a hawk, the other a crested bird hopping around, the reverse undecorated to reveal the stone's cloud-like inclusions

Quek Kiok Lee.
Sotheby's London, 6th June 1988, lot 113.

Patrick K. M. Kwok, 'The Joe Grimberg Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles', Arts of Asia, November-December 1993, p. 95, no. 28.
Vanessa F. Holden, 'The Joe Grimberg Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles', Oriental Art, 2002, Volume 48, No. 4, pp. 65-72, fig. 21.

The bottle is in good condition with a tiny and shallow chip on the exterior of the mouth.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Birds were a very popular subject among the makers of silhouette agate snuff bottles. The present bottle is an exceptional example and a true masterpiece as the carver has used the natural colors in the stone to achieve the shading of the bird in the back, utilizing a minimal amount of polishing to emphasize the beaks and eyes. In contrast, the bird in the foreground appears to be lively and in motion, with its tail in the air and its beak open. These subtleties are most dramatic when the bottle is held up to the light.