Chinese snuff bottle, rock crystal carved in shallow relief, heart-shaped flattened flask form, Qing Dynasty; 1821-1850.

The bottle is a heart-shaped flattened flask form with short cylindrical splayed neck. It does not have a stopper.
It is made of rock crystal, with decoration carved in shallow relief.
The decoration conisists of a stylised formal foliage enclosed within a heart-shaped panel on the front and reverse of the bottle and no foot.

Salting Bequest

Bequeathed by Mr. George Salting, accessioned in 1910. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.

The carving is related to the Moghul style which became a court taste after the flow into China of jades carved in North India began in 1756. Since private workshops in Suzhou, Yangzhou and other centres carried out commissions for the court it is likely that the fashion for Moghul carving became more widespread. The fashion continued into the nineteenth century.
The decoration on this bottle is strikingly similar to that seen on ceramic 'medallion' bowls dating from the Daoguang period (1821-1850). In shape and layout it is similar to the porcelain bottle from Captain Colvile's watercolour album of items sent back to England from China between 1857 and 1860. The coincidence of these features suggests that it was made during the Daoguang period.

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.

C.1628-1910