Cer, China, Qing, GLASS, INSIDE-PAINTED

This object is a double bottle consisting of two oblong flattened flask form bottles with raised panels on each exposed surface and shoulders curving to wide cylindrical necks. They are made of glass, transparent grey, painted inside in black, blue, white, green and brown.
Each bottle has a dome-shaped stopper made of green glass.
The decoration depicts a landscape scene with buildings and an inscription meaning 'Painted by Lesan' (or 'Yuesan'). There is a figure in a landscape and an inscription 'Painted in the Pure Bamboos Studio'. On the reverse there are butterflies and flowers; a grasshopper on a cabbage leaf, with another plant, perhaps nadina, behind.
The high foot is solid underneath.

Given by Charles Lund, Esq.

Given by Mr. Charles Lund, accessioned in 1908. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.

Snuff is powdered tobacco, usually blended with aromatic herbs or spices. The habit of snuff-taking spread to China from the West during the 17th century and became established in the 18th century. People generally carried snuff in a small bottle. By the 20th century these bottles had become collectors' items, owing to the great variety of materials and decorative techniques used in their production.

558-1908