S10 A single crystal druzy quartz “Plum” snuff bottle

Description

Description:  Chinese snuff bottle carved out from a single crystal of quartz, originally covered by a druzy layer of white microcrystals. The carver exploited the difference among the transparent crystal and the opaque druzy layer for enhancing the carving, in this case plum branches and a bird.

Foot/base:  Small oval concave base

Mark:  

Dating:  18^th / 19^th Century.

Material:  Quartz

Size:  64 mm high

Stopper:  Pink quartz stopper and ivory spoon.

Provenance:  Antiquarian market

References:

Notes:  Druzy stones are stones which, because of a natural occurrence, have formed a surface layer of crystallization as a sort of skin.  This is caused by millions of years of natural movement of waters, running sediments and silica, gradually moving over the surface of the stone which makes it have an appearance of crystalized sparkling sugar on its outer rind.