Chinese
Snuff Bottle, early 19th century
Rose quartz, 5.7 cm (2 1/4 in.)
This tiny, rose quartz, Chinese snuff bottle is etched with fantastical and natural imagery. The bottle shape is rounded but flattened so the front and back are wider than the sides. It tapers into a short, slender neck that supports a small, domed, deep blue stopper. The color is a deep pink, mottled with irregular, cream-colored variegations. The etchings on its surface are largely botanical: there is a continuous stem and leaf design with nasturtium-like flowers. There is also fauna: a free flying butterfly and a large bird. The bird has a curved neck and, seen in profile, a rooster-like head with cox and comb.
Little Salon
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.