A Contemporary Chinese Hand-Carved 'Snakewood' Oval Accent Dish
An exceptionally fine, organically shaped oval accent dish expertly turned and hollowed from a single, solid block of dense, premium exotic hardwood—most notably displaying the spectacular, highly coveted characteristics of prime snakewood. The vessel is masterfully fashioned with a gently sloping, shallow basin and elegant, uniformly thinned rim walls that showcase a remarkably flawless silhouette. It is defined by its arresting, highly pronounced natural grain pattern, which forms a dense, regular network of variegated dark brown and crimson-hued specks and shifting skeletal bands that closely mirror the scales of a serpent or a leopard's coat. The raw timber has been meticulously micro-sanded and finished with a delicate coat of clear protective wax, elevating the wood's inherent chatoyancy to a luminous, silk-like semi-gloss luster that shifts dynamically under direct lighting. Length: 5 in. Provenance: Collection from Professor of University of Chicago in IL USA .
Condition
The exotic hardwood dish remains in absolute mint, flawless structural condition. Due to the immense density and notoriously brittle, checking-prone nature of snakewood timber, the complete absence of any vertical contraction lines, shrinkage fissures, hairline stress splits, or warping is highly exceptional. The smoothly buffed rim and baseline are completely pristine, exhibiting zero modern handling abrasions, surface scratches, edge chips, or past restoration. The interior basin remains perfectly uniform, dry, and clean, beautifully retaining its original workshop-fresh polish and bright, untouched patina.
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An exceptionally fine, organically shaped oval accent dish expertly turned and hollowed from a single, solid block of dense, premium exotic hardwood—most notably displaying the spectacular, highly coveted characteristics of prime snakewood. The vessel is masterfully fashioned with a gently sloping, shallow basin and elegant, uniformly thinned rim walls that showcase a remarkably flawless silhouette. It is defined by its arresting, highly pronounced natural grain pattern, which forms a dense, regular network of variegated dark brown and crimson-hued specks and shifting skeletal bands that closely mirror the scales of a serpent or a leopard's coat. The raw timber has been meticulously micro-sanded and finished with a delicate coat of clear protective wax, elevating the wood's inherent chatoyancy to a luminous, silk-like semi-gloss luster that shifts dynamically under direct lighting. Length: 5 in. Provenance: Collection from Professor of University of Chicago in IL USA .
Condition
The exotic hardwood dish remains in absolute mint, flawless structural condition. Due to the immense density and notoriously brittle, checking-prone nature of snakewood timber, the complete absence of any vertical contraction lines, shrinkage fissures, hairline stress splits, or warping is highly exceptional. The smoothly buffed rim and baseline are completely pristine, exhibiting zero modern handling abrasions, surface scratches, edge chips, or past restoration. The interior basin remains perfectly uniform, dry, and clean, beautifully retaining its original workshop-fresh polish and bright, untouched patina.
Estimate
Reserve
Time, Location
Auction House
