Featured Silver & agate snuff bottle

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by Ratsy Brown, Jun 17, 2019.

  1. Ratsy Brown

    Ratsy Brown Well-Known Member

    Hi all, bought my first ever snuff bottle today. Really pleased, i know its its quite plain but i really like the shape and dimensions.

    No markings on the stopper or the bottle so i have no idea about the age, or even how good quality it is.

    I anxiously await your replies.

    5cm height.

    IMG_20190617_150509.jpg IMG_20190617_150515.jpg IMG_20190617_150525.jpg
     
  2. Ratsy Brown

    Ratsy Brown Well-Known Member

    _IMG_000000_000000.jpg

    Forgot the most important photo!
     
  3. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    It's very lovely !!!
     
  4. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

    @Any Jewelry. I haven't a clue if it's stone or not, but it looks like Agate and I like it!!
     
  5. Sandra

    Sandra Well-Known Member

    It seems to have some printing on the straight shaft of the wand?
     
  6. Ratsy Brown

    Ratsy Brown Well-Known Member

    Sorry, nothing on the wand, just a trick of the light!
     
    Christmasjoy, Bronwen, Sandra and 2 others like this.
  7. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    Lovely! And the top is a knock-out!
     
  8. moreotherstuff

    moreotherstuff Izorizent

    It looks well done to me. Is it carved from a single block, or assembled from slabs applied to a core?
     
  9. Ratsy Brown

    Ratsy Brown Well-Known Member

    Its a single block. I should mention the stopper fits perfectly so i assume it is original.
     
    Christmasjoy, Sandra, Bronwen and 3 others like this.
  10. moreotherstuff

    moreotherstuff Izorizent

    There are sufficent irregularities that it looks hand worked to me. Very nice.
     
  11. kyratango

    kyratango Bug jewellery addiction!

    Striking piece! I love the Art Deco feeling of the geometric lines, the agate banding pattern and the stopper:woot:
    Well done!:)
     
  12. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    It is stunning, Ratsy. A perfect combination of that simple, beautiful stone and the intricate silver stopper.
    I don't think it has great age, probably mid-late 20th century. That doesn't matter, most collectors buy good quality recent ones as well as antiques. And this one is good quality.
    Just a question, are the 'shoulders' hollowed out as well, or is the hole just straight down?
    Yes it does. This stone is generally called chalcedony, but it is like agate, just without added minerals that cause agate colours.
    Chalcedony always looks more regal to me than agate.
     
  13. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    My first reaction was that it is assembled from little slabs. Having enlarged one of the photos, I now agree it was a single block, & only the grime accumulated in the crevices is making it look like there are seams. When it has had a simple cleaning, its true nature will be evident. Love it. :)
     
  14. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

    AJ, Thank you!!!
     
    Christmasjoy, judy and Any Jewelry like this.
  15. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    All agate is the quartz mineral chalcedony; not all chalcedony is agate. Agate is a type of chalcedony formation, not the name of a mineral. In this case, if you were to cut a smaller bit for a cameo, you would call it banded agate. Pure chalcedony is translucent white, a faint blue-grey or lilac tinged color is common. It is easily treated to make other colors. This looks completely natural.

    When chalcedony is opaque, a solid color or variegated with no particular structure to the colors, it is called jasper. All jasper is chalcedony; not all chalcedony is jasper.

    Quartz>Chalcedony>Agate/Jasper

    https://cameotimes.com/index.php/reference/materials-guide?start=2
     
    aaroncab, Figtree3, sch3gsd and 7 others like this.
  16. Ratsy Brown

    Ratsy Brown Well-Known Member

    Looking through the opening it looks like its hollow up into the shoulders. Maybe i can use a dark coloured liquid to see where it reaches?

    @Bronwen that info is so useful!
     
    Any Jewelry, Bronwen and kyratango like this.
  17. Ratsy Brown

    Ratsy Brown Well-Known Member

    Also, i thought the silver stopper looked a lot like a Wang Hing bamboo design?

    IMG_20190617_150515.jpg ANTIQUE+19thC+CHINESE+WANG+HING+EXPORT+SOLID+SILVER+MUG,+HONG+KONG+c.1880-01.jpg
     
  18. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Yes, it does, but it isn't likely to be Wang Hing.;) I like it though, and it is a special little stopper. It really is a very beautiful combo.
     
    Ratsy Brown, kyratango and Bronwen like this.
  19. Figtree3

    Figtree3 What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    Nothing to add except to exclaim -- It is beautiful!
     
    Any Jewelry and kyratango like this.
  20. CryHavoc

    CryHavoc New Member

    I would guess the agate part at least might be from India or Pakistan.
     
Draft saved Draft deleted
Similar Threads: Silver agate
Forum Title Date
Antique Discussion Silver & agate ring Nov 4, 2022
Antique Discussion Is it pewter or silver? Jan 23, 2024
Antique Discussion Silver dish looking for 2941 C meaning Nov 19, 2023
Antique Discussion Silver Rattle - Thoughts about Age Jul 21, 2023
Antique Discussion Help to identify silver maker Jul 20, 2023

Share This Page