Opaque white glass snuff bottle with an overlay of red glass, China, ca.19th century

The bottle is an oval flattened flask form with a neck hole that is wide in relation to the total width of the neck. It does not have a stopper.
It is made of opaque white glass with an overlay of red glass partly cut away to form the decoration.
The decoration depicts a chi dragon with the same design on the reverse. Masks and mock ring handles are carved on the shoulders.
The high splayed foot is partly formed by red overlay, with angular indentation.
The decoration is a bold motif rather than a pictorial scene, in common with numerous other overlay bottles on a very white opaque ground.

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.1637-1910