China fossiliferous limestone Snuff box “Tiger on the...

Description Elegant Chinese fossiliferous limestone snuff bottle, carved in high relief with a roaring tiger descending among rocks. The remarkable quality of this piece lies in the especially skillful use of the stone’s natural variations. Its matrix of black, orange-brown, cream and apricot tones has been integrated into the composition: the orange hues contribute to the tiger’s coat, while the darker areas structure the rocks and enhance depth in relief. The feline, with open mouth and forepaws projecting forward, presents a particularly vivid expression. The flask retains its matching stopper, very probably historically paired with the piece, as well as its spoon. The bottle also benefits from a documented provenance: an old Portuguese collection belonging to José Luís de Azevedo Barreto Sachetti (1933–2011), where it carried inventory number 506, then by descendants. It later appears in the dispersion of the collection at Marques dos Santos in Porto, lot 54, before passing into a private Belgian collection. China, late Qing Dynasty – Republican period, around 1890–1940, probably the first third of the 20th century. Material: fossiliferous limestone Dimensions: H. 6.4 × L. 4.8 × D. 2.5 cm Condition: Very good+; very fine overall condition, with the irregularities and natural lines inherent to the stone. A particularly attractive collection snuff bottle, combining an unusual material, an expressive sculpture, and a well-documented European provenance.

Estimate:£465.38

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