Chinese agate snuff bottle with bird and blossom carving, late Qing dynasty
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
late Qing dynasty
This is an example of a Chinese snuff bottle carved from agate, dating to the late Qing dynasty. The bottle is well-hollowed and features a concave lip and a recessed foot, characteristics typical of high-quality snuff containers from this period.
The artisan has utilized the natural characteristics of the material by incorporating brown fern-like inclusions into the design. On one side of the bottle, a scene is carved in low relief, depicting two birds perched in a blossoming tree. The carving skillfully integrates the natural color variations of the agate with the figurative motifs. The bottle measures 5.5 cm in height and retains a classic, rounded form. The object was traditionally used to contain powdered tobacco, which was a popular practice in China during the Qing era.
The bottle shows a refined finish, demonstrating the skill of lapidary work common in the late 19th or early 20th century.
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
- Height
- 5.5cm
- Material
- agate
Design
- Motifs
- two birds in a blossoming tree
- Features
- well-hollowed, concave lip, recessed foot, brown fern-like inclusions
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.