Chinese snuff bottle, carved quartz and coloured glass, flattened flask form, Qing Dynasty; 1870-1895.

The bottle is a flattened flask form narrowing towards the base, with grooved sides and a two-part irregularly shaped stopper.
The bottle is made of quartz, mauve, with carved decoration; the stopper of glass coloured pink to imitate rose quartz and yellow glass.
The decoration consists of a large stylised character, perhaps fu meaning happiness, and a curved key pattern border above. There is the same design on the reverse. On each shoulder, two confronted bats forming holes for hanging, with archaic scroll above.
The high angular foot has a high angular indentation underneath.
The decorative effect is angular and geometric. This, together with the large character (which here is oddly difficult to read) suggest that this is a late bottle, perhaps made with a foreign market in mind.

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.

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.1615-1910