snuff bottle

Object NameSnuff Bottle and Stopper

Made FromGlass, Stone, Ivory, Cork

Date1830-1911

Place MadeChina

TechniqueMold-blown, cased, carved

SizeOverall H: 5.6 cm, W: 3.1 cm

Accession Number82.6.95

Credit LineBequest of Marian Swayze Mayer

Curatorial Area(s)

Modern

Not On View

Interpretive Notes

Web Text

蓝套白玻璃诗纹鼻烟壶

Physical DescriptionSnuff Bottle and Stopper. Transparent bright blue, opaque white, and pink glass, amethyst stone, ivory, cork; mold-blown, cased, carved. (a) Flattened, ovoid form, of brilliant blue glass, one side flattened and covered with red overlay on opaque white, the pink carved to leave Chinese characters “自古聖賢不能無號 Zi Gu Shen Xian Bu Neng Wu Hao” standing in relief (translation: "Since early times one cannot be a sage or a scholar without adopting a pseudonym"); short, straight neck with polished, flat rim; the interior surface ground. (b) Domed amethyst (?) cap, with one flat side; cork stopper; slender ivory spoon with pointed oval spatulate bowl.
Provenance

Source Marian Swayze Mayer (d. 1982) - 1981-12-22