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Chinese enameled silver tobacco box

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · partial

Period

19th/20th c.

This Chinese tobacco box is crafted from silver, featuring a multi-lobed floral silhouette. The exterior surface is decorated with a delicate enamel design depicting vibrant red berries suspended from slender green branches with leaves.

The box measures approximately 0.75 inches in height and 2.75 inches in diameter, with a total weight of approximately 3.7 troy ounces. It features a swivel-hinged side opening that provides access to a divided interior compartment, designed to hold contents such as snuff or tobacco. The underside of the piece is stamped with Chinese calligraphy marks, confirming its regional origin. While the specific silver fineness is unknown, the construction exhibits the characteristic craftsmanship of late 19th to early 20th-century Asian decorative arts.

The item serves as a functional and ornamental vessel, showcasing a balance between metallic form and colorful enamel artistry typical of the period's personal accessory production.

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

Weight
approx. 3.7ozt
Material
silver, enamel
Dimensions
0.75"h x 2.75"dia

Technical characteristics

Interior
divided
Opening mechanism
swivel hinged side opening

Design

Motif
red berries on green branches
Inscriptions
calligraphy stamped on underside

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.