Chinese snuff bottle, moss agate, carved in a relief depicting dragons, Qing Dynasty; 1750-1820.

The bottle is in the form of an archaic bronze vessel, a hu, with prominent masks and mock ring handles. It does not have a stopper.
It is made of moss agate, green, grey and yellow, with decoration carved in low relief.
The carved relief depicts a circle enclosing a pair of confronted dragons and a simplified shou ('long life')character. There is a band with a scroll motif at the neck; The same design appears on each side.
The high stepped foot has a high indentation underneath.
The conscious archaism indicates a relatively early date.

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.1711-1910