Snuff bottle, carved red glass overlay on white glass, China, 1750-1850
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1750-1850
People generally carried snuff in a small bottle. The bottle is a gourd form, the lower section square, the upper half bulbous, with a slightly splayed neckrim. The flat-topped stopper is made of green glass.
The decoration on the lower section depicts a dragon on each of the four sides; the upper section has a dragon and a shou , ('long life') character; there is a band of red overlay around the waist and neck rim. The splayed foot is partly formed by overlay, with angular indentation underneath. The carving is of good quality and the shape unusual; it may be somewhat earlier than the mass of overlay bottles. Bequeathed by Mr. George Salting, accessioned in 1910.
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
- Material
- White, semi-opaque glass with an overlay of red glass carved in relief, with green glass stopper
- Dimensions
- Height: 8.7 cm
Technical characteristics
- Place recorded
- China
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Victoria and Albert Museum, London collection record for this single object (sentences kept verbatim apart from removed sale or rarity wording); how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Candidate id
- vam-O8112
- Museum object name
- Snuff bottle
- Holding institution
- Victoria and Albert Museum, London
- Museum object number
- C.1576-1910
- Museum system number
- O8112
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and dating against a specialist reference; this entry documents one recorded example.