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This listing is for a wood or bamboo (unsure) Chinese snuff bottle with carved design on both sides of an elder riding on horse with flowering trees in the background. The carving is nicely done and the bottle has signs of wood grain when using magnification on the sides. The stopper is dome shaped with silver wire flowers and a green cabochon stone in the center top with the stopper having a silver spoon attached. Bottle has a raised foot ring that is unmarked.

Measures 3" high (to top of stopper), 2 1/2" high (to top of bottle) with an overall width of 1 5/8". Weighs 1.2 ounces.

This nice bottle is in excellent Estate condition with nice carving and no noted flaws. There is a tiny no-harm nick in the body just below the mouth on one side and the stopper is missing a layer of cork or wrapping around the attachment that fits into the mouth so that it doesn't fit tightly in the bottle's mouth.

HISTORY:

DURING THE 17th CENTURY, THE TAKING OF SNUFF BECAME A POPULAR CHINESE PRACTICE. ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR THE CHINESE TO SMOKE TOBACCO, SNUFF WAS CONSIDERED MEDICINAL. ACCORDINGLY, THE SNUFF BOTTLE DEVELOPED IN THE LATTER PART OF THE CENTURY AND WAS BASED ON THE CONCEPTS OF THE CHINESE MEDICINE BOTTLES (YAO PING).

IN THE LATE 19th CENTURY, THE SNUFF BOTTLE BECAME A CABINET BOTTLE AND PURCHASED FOR COLLECTING PURPOSES. MANY OF THESE CABINET BOTTLES WERE NOT WELL HOLLOWED. AT THE SAME TIME, MOTIFS WERE MORE FLAMBOYANT.

Today, snuff bottles are highly prized and collected worldwide.

We at Antiques & Moore have been in the Antiques business for over 30 years and try to describe our items as accurately as possible. Although all sales are considered final, if there is an error in our description or a problem with our item, we will issue a full refund of the purchase price if contacted within 3 days after receipt of the item, however, please note that we cannot refund shipping charges. We are happy to answer any questions and always appreciate your business!