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Subject:Help Identifying this Tiny Bottle
Posted By: Lance William Frazer Wed, Jul 31, 2019 IP: 2601:204:4000:dfa8:4

Good day to one and all. I am hoping for help from the knowledgeable members of the Forum on the identification and approximate dating) of this tiny bottle.Height is barely 2 3/4 inches (including the top). For whatever reason, the greenish top appears to have been glued into the opening of the bottle. I've attached a couple of photos, including of the script on the bottom (which I fear is too badly worn to be of use). It's quite attractively decorated, and I'd like to learn what I can about its use, the decorations and, if possible, at least an approximation of the age. My sincere thanks in advance.







Subject:Re: Help Identifying this Tiny Bottle
Posted By: Bill H Thu, Aug 01, 2019

It's a Chinese snuff bottle with decoration of peaches, Buddha-hand citrons and stylized long life characters. Probably dates from around the 2nd or early 3rd quarter of the 20th century, in my opinion. What's left of the heavily rubbed mark appears to read in seal-writing "Made during the Qianlong Reign" (Qian long nian Zhi - 乾隆年製).

The colored stone or glass cap may have been glued down after the loss of what would have been a tiny attached spoon for dipping out portions of snuff for consumption. You may be able to find repair kits online, but unless you want the bottle for its intended use, I'd suggest you leave it as is for display. Its value is purely decorative.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Subject:Re: Help Identifying this Tiny Bottle
Posted By: Mark Adams Thu, Aug 01, 2019

Said bottle is actually a snuff bottle.
The stone top should have had a small spoon attached.
Very popular during the 19th century and made primarily from glass, jade and other hard stone material as well as Ivory. Very much a status symbol vsbk in the day.
Your bottle, however is a modern interpretation of said and would have been sold as some type of tourist type ware.
mark@imperial

Subject:Re: Help Identifying this Tiny Bottle
Posted By: Rémy DOUKHAN Thu, Aug 01, 2019

It's a porcelain snuff Chinese bottle

Subject:Re: Help Identifying this Tiny Bottle
Posted By: Stan Thu, Aug 01, 2019

It is a modern example of a Chinese snuff bottle. To learn more, enter "snuff bottle" in the Search function of this board. See the link below for some of ours.

Cheers,
Stan

URL Title :Snuff Bottles


Subject:Re: Help Identifying this Tiny Bottle
Posted By: mikeoz Fri, Aug 02, 2019

Your tiny bottle is a Chinese snuff bottle. I hate to say so, but it is not of very high quality. The red symbol in picture 2 is a stylised long life symbol, as is also the symbol in the round shape in picture 1.

The mark on the bottom actually reads 乹隆年製 QianLong era made.
But of course it wasn't made then. This is a very common mark on snuff bottles made for the tourist and souvenir market.

The top that has been glued on was originally attached to a small spoon used to dispense the snuff.

Subject:Re: Help Identifying this Tiny Bottle
Posted By: Lance William Frazer Fri, Aug 02, 2019

Thanks for the education, one and all. Much appreciated.


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