AN INSIDE-PAINTED GLASS ‘ZHONG KUI’ SNUFF BOTTLE
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
first half of the 20th century
One side is painted with Zhong Kui riding a donkey to escort his younger sister to her wedding, seated in a sedan chair, both attended by small demons. The reverse depicting children at school, spending their leisure amicably under the distant gaze of their teacher.
The rounded rectangular body supported on a splayed oval foot and rising to a cylindrical neck. In the present snuff bottle, she is shown in her wedding procession, accompanied by her brother and demon attendants. On a subtler level, the theme ‘Zhong Kui marrying off his sister’ (Zhong Kui jiamei) can also be interpreted as a visual pun on the term ‘jiamei’ (to be rid of evil spirits), conveying the wish for smooth and harmonious daily life.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Material (listing wording)
- glass
- Dimensions or weight (listing wording)
- Height 6.8 cm
Identification
- Source note
- Auction-house description published on Invaluable. Attribution and measurements are the auction house’s statements about the photographed example; independent type authentication remains research required.
- Listing object ID
- 205758076
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Independent confirmation of type attribution and auction-house statements remains research required.