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Chinese snuff bottle
A Chinese glass snuff bottle of teardrop form on an oval foot with mask-and-ring handles and 2 different central scenes of superb carving.
The use of tabacco snuff and its bottles was established at the start of the Qing dynasty around 1644. Being first tokens of favour and prestige at the court, the use slowly trickled down society. Virtually any material was used, being jade and other percious stones to quartzes, porcelain, metal and organic material like ivory and coral.
However, the majority of Chinese snuff bottles was made of glass. This example is a blown white bodied bottle covered with a layer of red and black glass. Subsequently - using cameo technique - the black layer is cut away to reveals the red layer and cutting further shows the white underground. This bottle has been rendered with great detail and care.
Height without stopper 6,5 cm, made approximately between 1760 to 1840.
Chinese snuff bottle
A Chinese glass snuff bottle of teardrop form on an oval foot with mask-and-ring handles and 2 different central scenes of superb carving.
The use of tabacco snuff and its bottles was established at the start of the Qing dynasty around 1644. Being first tokens of favour and prestige at the court, the use slowly trickled down society. Virtually any material was used, being jade and other percious stones to quartzes, porcelain, metal and organic material like ivory and coral.
However, the majority of Chinese snuff bottles was made of glass. This example is a blown white bodied bottle covered with a layer of red and black glass. Subsequently - using cameo technique - the black layer is cut away to reveals the red layer and cutting further shows the white underground. This bottle has been rendered with great detail and care.
Height without stopper 6,5 cm, made approximately between 1760 to 1840.