Chinese late Qing dynasty rock crystal snuff bottle with bat motif
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
late Qing dynasty
This late Qing dynasty snuff bottle is meticulously crafted from clear rock crystal, featuring a well-hollowed, flattened body typical of the period. The vessel is decorated in low relief with a bat motif, appearing on each side of the bottle.
The intricate carving depicts the outspread wings of the bat, which meet along the narrow sides of the body. Stylized lines separating these wings extend downward, terminating at the flattened base of the bottle in a curling design suggestive of a yinyang motif. The bottle, which measures 7.8cm in height, represents a sophisticated example of Chinese lapidary work from the late 19th or early 20th century. The clarity of the rock crystal emphasizes the subtle tactile quality of the relief carving, showcasing the artisan's attention to fluid composition and traditional symbolic representation in small-scale decorative objects.
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
- 7.8cm
- Material
- rock crystal
Design
- Motifs
- bat, yinyang
- Carving
- low relief
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.