Carved hornbill recumbent horse snuff bottle, 19th century
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
19th century
This 19th-century snuff bottle is expertly carved from hornbill casque, featuring a recumbent horse motif. The animal is modeled in a resting position, with its head curved forward and resting upon its front leg.
The overall body of the bottle exhibits a warm, ivory-like tone characteristic of the material. A distinct feature of hornbill carving is the deliberate use of the natural red outer layer of the casque, which is applied here to detail the mane, the tail, and the integral spoon. The tail itself is cleverly designed to form the stopper, while the underside of the bottle is concave and features relief carvings of the folded legs.
The object measures approximately 7cm (2 3/4 inches) in length. This traditional Chinese snuff bottle reflects the meticulous craftsmanship required to work with the layered density of hornbill, balancing functional design as a container for snuff with the sculptural aesthetics of the recumbent horse form.
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
- Length
- 7cm (2 3/4in)
- Material
- hornbill casque
Technical characteristics
- Stopper
- integrated tail stopper
- Accessory
- attached spoon
Design
- Subject
- recumbent horse
- Features
- red outer layer detail on mane, tail and spoon, concave underside with relief carved legs
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.