A banded agate snuff bottle 瑪瑙玉帶紋鼻煙壺

Of elegant tapered cylindrical form with recessed footrim inscribed yi jin zhai 詒晉齋 "appreciation of imperial favor studio", the stone exhibiting graduated bands of white and beige rings, very well hollowed out, coral glass stopper with green glass finial. 2in (5.3cm) high - Sold for $3,050

Provenance 來源: Wing Hing, purchased October, 2003

A small dendritic agate snuff bottle 瑪瑙皮影鳳尾草鼻煙壺 19th Century 十九世紀 photo courtesy Bonhams

Of flattened pear shape with flat base and well hollowed, one face displaying natural inclusions of russet and deep brown hue in the form of leafy branches; composition branch-form stopper and vinyl collar. 2 1/4in (6cm) high - Sold for $3,660

Provenance 來源: Arts of China, purchased October, 1995

Exhibited 展出: Gallery of New South Wales,
Sydney, Australia, 1991
Chinese Culture Center, San Francisco, July, 2000

Illustrated 出版圖片: Hidden Treasures of the Dragon (1991), cat. no. 278

A banded agate snuff bottle 瑪瑙玉帶荷包鼻煙壺 19th Century 十九世紀 photo courtesy Bonhams

Designed in the form of a court purse with flat lip and gently recessed foot, detailed with finely incised vertical lines, the semi-transparent stone marked with intriguing red and orange bands dissected by white to its lower portion. 2 1/2in (6cm) high - Sold for $4,270

Provenance 來源: Peter Lee, purchased July, 2000

Items used to contain or carry money in China are naturally associated with wealth. This snuff bottle is in the form of a typical purse or wallet (hebao).

Bonhams. Fine Snuff Bottles from the Collection of Margaret Polak, 24 Mar 2010. 580 Madison Avenue, New York www.bonhams.com