Chinese snuff bottles come in various shapes, sizes and designs but my main interest has been the glass ones. These are fascinating as the, often, elaborate designs are painted on the
inside
through the small opening at the top. The inside is roughened first and the design, usually in water inks adheres to the roughened interior. The designs have the detail painted first with the colour blocks and shading applied last. The bottles are plugged with a type of cork and topped with a decorative stone top (usually agate or onyx). The snuff is dispensed with a small thin spoon of ivory or bamboo inserted into the cork stopper.
All of the bottles here are modern examples as antique pieces are rare and expensive.
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detail
Object:
Glass Snuff Bottle - Cormorants on Water with Foliage
Description:
The bottle is in clear glass with design painted inside in black and pale green ink. Orange stone cap.
Comments:
The shape of this is a little more unusual being "in the round" as opposed to the more usual flattened design with differing designs on front and back.
Maker:
Unknown
Age:
1990's
Size:
cm high
detail
Object:
Glass Snuff Bottle - Prawns or shrimps and Chinese Characters.
Description:
The design painted inside is again in black ink with a small red "chop" and signature. The design is then backed in a thicker green wash and is in the style of a Chinese scroll painting.
Comments:
Again the bottle is of round section and the design flows around it.
Maker:
Unknown
Age:
1990's
Size:
cm high
detail
Object:
Glass Snuff Bottle - Chrysanthemums and Autumn Leaves.
Description:
Polychrome design painted inside the bottle with signature. Moldings on outside of bottle in blue glass. Orange stone stopper.
Comments:
More traditional style of snuff bottle with complementary design on front and back.
Maker:
Unknown
Age:
1970's
Size:
4.5 cm high
detail
Object:
Glass Snuff Bottle - Eagle, Cranes and Pines
Description:
Birds painted inside with perching eagle on one side plus signature and "chop". Two cranes on the ground on reverse.
Comments:
Traditional plain bottle with green stone stopper.
Maker:
Unknown
Age:
1990's
Size:
cm high
detail
Object:
Glass Snuff Bottle - Tigers in Mountains With Waterfall Under Moon
Description:
Clear glass bottle with clear moldings around design. Fairly traditional Chinese depiction of tigers.
Comments:
Brown stone stopper.
Maker:
Unknown
Age:
1990's
Size:
cm high
detail
Object:
Glass Snuff Bottle - Plum Blossom in Late Winter
Description:
Stark branches in Indian ink and carmine ink blossom.
Comments:
An irregular hexagonal section bottle that has been ground and polished to shape. Greenish stone stopper.
Maker:
Unknown
Age:
1990's
Size:
cm high
detail
Object:
Glass Snuff Bottle - Traditional Chinese Figures
Description:
Polychrome design with Chinese lady and boy with giant peach on one side, and Chinese sage and boy again with peaches.
Comments:
Rectangular section, ground and polished bottle. Unfortunately stone stopper is missing.
Maker:
Unknown
Age:
1990's
Size:
cm high
detail
Object:
Glass Snuff Bottle - Birds and Flowers
Description:
This large bottle has a very brightly painted design with blue winged birds and red peony flowers on one side and yellowish bird and 2 types of flower on the reverse.
Comments:
This bottle is of square section and very thick walls. The stopper is of reddish brown stone.
Maker:
Unknown
Age:
1990's
Size:
cm high
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