Categories: Chinese Works of Art |

A deep purple glass snuff bottle, Chinese, 1750-1880.

This bottle is imitating amethyst. It has a concave circular panel on each side to serve as integral snuff dishes and there are carved dragons on the shoulders, 5.8cm.

Attributed to Beijing.

The Chinese delighted in copying various materials, particularly hardstones, in glass or porcelain. Here, the glass has been weighted to simulate the density of amethyst.

REFERENCE: CSBG.38

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