Chinese
Snuff Bottle, early 19th century
Glass with polychrome appliqué and coral stopper, hieght 9.6 cm (3 3/4 in.)
This object is a multi-color overlay white glass snuff bottle with a dome-shaped coral stopper. It has a slender oblong shape and a short tapered neck. Its flat base is black, its body is white with multi-colored images, designs, and lettering. The front has images of horses one black one gold. There are pink flowers hanging from a black tree. Two the right of these designs is the maker’s mark inscribed in black. The back has images of a purple candlestick with a pink candle, and a purple teapot and cups. Below, there is a purple squirrel animal sitting on a golden shell or vase. The shell might be that of a turtle. On the upper left hand corner on this side are white Chinese characters surrounded by a pink oval. On the sides there are black and green designs.
Little Salon
Commentary
This bottle was created to hold snuff—a flavored powdered tobacco inhaled through the nose. Snuff—introduced to China by European missionaries and merchants—was widely used in the 1800s. Made from a variety of materials and sometimes elaborately decorated, Chinese snuff bottles have an airtight stopper to protect against humidity and a small scoop for removing the tobacco.
One side of this milk glass snuff bottle is decorated with bathing horses. The other side features a candlestick, a teapot and two cups, a water caltrop, and a squirrel standing on an overturned vase under which the rear end of a second squirrel emerges. Isabella Stewart Gardner may have purchased it on her travels in China in 1883.