Qing Dynasty white jade snuff bottle with bat and lingzhi motif
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Qing Dynasty
This snuff bottle is crafted from fine-textured white jade, retaining the natural form of a jade pebble, typical of Qing Dynasty artistic appreciation for natural stone textures.
The surface features areas of natural golden-yellow skin, which creates a striking visual effect against the lustrous white jade body. The vessel is meticulously hollowed and polished to a smooth, rounded finish, highlighting the material's inherent quality. The design is understated, focusing on the natural shape and the contrast of the jade's skin and body. It is embellished with shallow, delicate carvings of a bat and a lingzhi fungus, traditional Chinese motifs symbolizing good fortune, auspiciousness, and longevity.
The bottle is fitted with a red coral stopper that complements its elegant and subtle aesthetic. Standing 5.4 cm in height, this piece reflects the scholarly taste for palm-sized objects that embody both natural beauty and refined craftsmanship. Its restrained decoration allows the natural markings and the warmth of the jade to be the primary focus, aligning with the aesthetic sensibilities of Chinese literati 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
- 5.4 cm
- Material
- white jade, coral stopper
Design
- Motifs
- bat, lingzhi fungus
- Features
- natural pebble form with golden-yellow skin
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.