Chinese yellow-ground inlaid 'Hehe Twins' glass snuff bottle
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Late Qing Dynasty to Republic period, 19th-20th century
This Chinese snuff bottle, dating to the late Qing Dynasty or early Republic period (19th-20th century), is crafted from glass with a distinctive yellow ground.
The bottle features a classic form supported by a short foot. It is decorated with intricate carvings rendered in brown and white glass, depicting the legendary Hehe Twins, traditional symbols of harmony and joy. In addition to the figures, the design incorporates the 'three abundances' (sanduo), illustrated by a large cart bearing a peach, a pomegranate, and finger citrus. These symbols typically represent blessings of longevity, fertility, and prosperity.
The vessel is capped with a matching quartz stopper and stands 7.5cm high excluding the stopper. This piece demonstrates the lapidary skill associated with cameo glass techniques of the period, where layers of colored glass are carefully carved away to reveal contrasting motifs against the translucent yellow background.
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
- 7.5cm (without stopper)
- Material
- glass, quartz
Design
- Color
- yellow ground, brown and white glass
- Motifs
- Hehe Twins, peach, pomegranate, finger citrus, cart
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.