Chinese ivory 'court ladies' snuff bottle, c. 1920
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c. 1920
This Chinese snuff bottle is crafted from ivory and dates to approximately 1920, representing the late Qing Dynasty to Republic period. It is designed in an elongated baluster form, rising from a recessed oval foot to a cylindrical neck.
The piece is surmounted by a matching domed ivory stopper, which features carved lappets décor and a final knob, and incorporates an integrated spoon. The exterior body is decorated with intricate relief carvings depicting elegant court ladies adorned in flowing robes, with one figure shown holding a fan. The bottle measures 70 mm in total height, including the stopper, with a neck diameter of 12 mm and a mouth diameter of 9 mm.
It has a total weight of 17.3 grams. The surface exhibits characteristic age cracks and wear consistent with the age of the material. This snuff bottle serves as a representative example of early 20th-century Chinese carved ivory craftsmanship, often used for the personal storage of snuff during the period.
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
- 70 mm
- Weight
- 17.3 g
- Material
- ivory
- Neck diameter
- 12 mm
- Mouth diameter
- 9 mm
Technical characteristics
- Stopper
- matching ivory, carved spoon
Design
- Motif
- court ladies in flowing robes holding fans
- Decoration
- relief carving, lappets on stopper
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.