Published: Bob Stevens, The Collector’s Book of Snuff Bottles, Weatherhill, 1976, pages 166-167, no. 620.

China, 1750-1850. Of rounded rectangular form, supported on a short oval foot ring, surmounted by a cylindrical neck with flat rim. The opaque stone of a gray color suffused primarily with ovoid pebbles of olive, ochre, brown, and russet.

Provenance: British trade. An inventory number’ 037/0401’ lacquered to the base.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, few small nibbles to edges, a minuscule nick to the lip, light surface scratches, the stopper with minuscule nicks and light scratches. The stone with a natural fissure.

Stopper: Rose quartz. Note that the stopper has been replaced since the publication of the bottle in the Stevens book.
Weight: 78.4 g
Dimensions: Height incl. stopper 63 mm, Diameter neck 19 mm and mouth 8 mm

Puddingstone is the general term for a conglomerate of sedimentary flint pebbles in a matrix of chert – both part of the quartz family. Bottles carved from this striking material come in a wide variety of colors, textures, sizes, and shapes. The stone’s appearance is not dissimilar to plum pudding, from which it derives its name. The variation in size of the pebbles sets up an attractive counterpoint to the beige matrix, and the combination of shapes and sizes creates a strong design that compliments the simple and tactile form.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 25 November 2013, lot 87
Price: HKD 62,500 or approx. EUR 9,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A puddingstone snuff bottle, Qing dynasty, late 18th/19th century
Expert remark: Compare the related form and color of the stone. Note the size (77 mm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 13 September 2017, lot 235
Price: USD 11,250 or approx. EUR 13,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A puddingstone snuff bottle, 1760-1850
Expert remark: Compare the related form, color of the stone, and size (66 mm). Note the mask ring handles.



清代抱子石鼻煙壺
中國，1750-1850年。扁平長方，圓角，直頸，圈足。質地細潤，打磨光滑，褐、白、黑等色穿插，通體光素，未施琢任何紋飾，純以石質本身天然紋理取勝。

出版：Bob Stevens，The Collectors Book of Snuff Bottles，Weatherhill，1976年，第166-167頁，圖620。

來源：英國古玩交易，底部漆字收藏編號 ‘037/0401’。
品相：狀況極好，有輕微磨損，邊緣輕微磕損，表面有輕微划痕，壺蓋上有微小劃痕。石料有天然裂紋。

壺蓋：粉紅石英。請注意，比較出版目錄，壺蓋曾經被更換過。
重量：78.4 克
尺寸：含壺蓋高63 毫米，頸部直徑19 毫米 ，壺口直徑8 毫米

抱子石，也稱布丁石，是在燧石基質中沉積燧石卵石的總稱——是石英家族的一種。用這種引人注目的材料雕刻而成的瓶子有多種顏色、紋理、尺寸和形狀，外觀與佈丁十分相像，因此得名。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2013年11月25日，lot 87
價格：HKD 62,500（相當於今日EUR 9,500）
描述：清十八世紀末 / 十九世紀初抱子石鼻煙壺
專家評論：比較相近的外型和石色。請注意尺寸(77 毫米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2017年9月13日，lot 235
價格：USD 11,250（相當於今日EUR 13,000）
描述：1760-1850年礫岩鋪首啣環耳鼻煙壺
專家評論：比較相近的外形、石色和尺寸 (66 毫米)。請注意輔首啣環耳。