Chinese carved jade snuff bottle, Republic period
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Republic period (1912-1949)
This Chinese snuff bottle dates from the Republic period (1912-1949) and is crafted from jade. The piece features a well-hollowed, flattened tapering body that stands 7cm high.
The design incorporates decorative mask and ring handles attached to the sides. The exterior is intricately carved, featuring a blossoming prunus branch on one side of the body. The reverse side is adorned with a poetic inscription, which translates to: 'Only after weathering the bitterest cold can the plum blossom release its sweetest fragrance.' The bottle is topped with a stopper. The craftsmanship emphasizes the traditional material and the integration of literary themes into the sculptural form of the bottle, which was intended for the containment and carriage of powdered tobacco or snuff.
It reflects the aesthetic sensibilities of the early 20th century in China, blending functional utility with classical artistic motifs and calligraphy.
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
- 7cm
- Material
- jade
Design
- Handles
- mask and ring handles
- Obverse
- carved with a blossoming prunus branch
- Reverse
- inscribed with a poem about plum blossoms
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.