91 - A CARVED CHALCEDONY ‘TETHERED HORSE’ SNUFF BOTTLE PROBABLY IMPERIAL, 1770-1840

A CARVED CHALCEDONY ‘TETHERED HORSE’ SNUFF BOTTLE PROBABLY IMPERIAL, 1770-1840 To Be Sold Without Reserve The stone of transparent pale grey-brown colour with russet brown markings, of well hollowed rounded rectangular form with a cylindrical neck and recessed oval foot, carved in relief on one side using the darker colouring in the stone with a horse, one leg raised, tethered to a post set in a brick plinth Height: 6cm Provenance: Hugh Moss (HK) Ltd, 16th July 1995, (a copy of the original invoice available) The horse tethered to a post is a symbol of unfulfilled potential and was a suitably auspicious gift for an aspiring official embarking upon his career. In the volume on Quartz bottles from the Bloch Collection, it is proposed that the group designated as Group B in Hugh Moss, Chinese Snuff Bottles of the Silica or Quartz Group is in fact the Imperial group of agates, of which this is one. This belief is based upon the fact that a large group of agates and chalcedony bottles must be the Imperial group, since the Court dominated the art of bottles in practically every field and there is no doubt they would also in this common material, and upon the predominantly auspicious symbolism linked to advancement in the civil service, such as this subject, the horse and monkey, etc Ω This Lot was imported outside of the UK, under the Temporary Admission scheme. 5% import VAT will be charged on the ‘hammer’ price and 20% VAT will be charged on the ‘buyer’s premium’. If proof of export outside of the UK can be provided for this item within 3 months of the sale date, then the VAT can be refunded. Please contact us for further details and shipping advice