Volcanic Bamboo Grove

1750-1900
Height: 6.35 cm
Mouth/lip: 0.70/1.68 cm
Stopper: ruby; silver collar

Provenance:
Gerry P. Mack Collection
Gary or Beverly Mack
Christie’s, South Kensington, 4 October 1999, lot 92
Christie’s, New York, 17 September 2010, lot 1171

 

Opaque, amygdaloidal basalt; with a concave lip and recessed, slightly convex, elongated-oval foot surrounded by a protruding convex, elongated-oval foot rim; carved with mask-and-ring handles on the narrow sides, the markings in the stone evoking an image of a bamboo grove.

Alexander Whittaker