Chinese Snuff Bottle Discussion Forum 中國鼻煙壺討論論壇

Dear All,

I am sharing a serpentine snuff bottle with a stylized Kui dragon and the following inscription:

秀色映水壶

Which roughly translates as "pot in which the water reflects beautyful scenery".

Regards,

Marcos

(https://snuffbottle.smfforfree.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1064.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fu365%2Fmarcosrvisconti%2FJade%2FDSC08845_zps93rcx2fn.jpg&hash=9a85404d4bcc9da6d5566b416639cdb2) (http://s1064.photobucket.com/user/marcosrvisconti/media/Jade/DSC08845_zps93rcx2fn.jpg.html)
(https://snuffbottle.smfforfree.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1064.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fu365%2Fmarcosrvisconti%2FJade%2FDSC08849_zpsubbsyscr.jpg&hash=a94352e8d14ccd805a76d8a2f563e384) (http://s1064.photobucket.com/user/marcosrvisconti/media/Jade/DSC08849_zpsubbsyscr.jpg.html)
(https://snuffbottle.smfforfree.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1064.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fu365%2Fmarcosrvisconti%2FJade%2FDSC08848_zpsx58iodm2.jpg&hash=dd5e3bb9692779761a1933f0226a8c84) (http://s1064.photobucket.com/user/marcosrvisconti/media/Jade/DSC08848_zpsx58iodm2.jpg.html)
(https://snuffbottle.smfforfree.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1064.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fu365%2Fmarcosrvisconti%2FJade%2FDSC08847_zpstk35rb1h.jpg&hash=1f08737451dde5d1b7aa519d03194e86) (http://s1064.photobucket.com/user/marcosrvisconti/media/Jade/DSC08847_zpstk35rb1h.jpg.html)
(https://snuffbottle.smfforfree.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1064.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fu365%2Fmarcosrvisconti%2FJade%2FDSC08846_zpsccd5toog.jpg&hash=ce3e085ed8cc1ff9a638ac84165f2cf4) (http://s1064.photobucket.com/user/marcosrvisconti/media/Jade/DSC08846_zpsccd5toog.jpg.html)
(https://snuffbottle.smfforfree.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1064.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fu365%2Fmarcosrvisconti%2FJade%2FDSC08850_zpssfbvb0uj.jpg&hash=99af28bb6cb41e677acc928709b4422a) (http://s1064.photobucket.com/user/marcosrvisconti/media/Jade/DSC08850_zpssfbvb0uj.jpg.html)

Really nice bottle.. As usual from you ! 

The wide mouth and what could well be the original stopper..

I also like the "scrolling clouds" border..

I bet it is real nicely hollowed out too.

Dear George,

I am happy you liked it.

The bottle is very well hollowed as well.

Thanks a lot,

Marcos

Agreed. A very nice piece !

Dear Marcos,

       I really like the bottle, except for the scratched inscription. I think that this is a medicine bottle for a wealthy person from ca. 1780 -1850, with the inscription scratched where the label would have been glued on. Having said that, it could also be a lot later in date - there are so many fakes floating around today!
Steven, what is your opinion?

       Since snuff was considered a medicine, by definition, all snuff bottles were medicine bottles. But they did not glue labels
onto them.

       Best,
Shabbat Shalom,
Joey

Dear Joey,

I just realized your suspiction that it is a modern bottle may be right. The character for pot (hu) is written in simplified format 壶. The traditional character should be 壺.

Regards,

Marcos

Dear Marcos,

      My suspicion was about the inscription, not necessarily the bottle itself. But I wanted Steven's opinion re.the bottle, because I have a problem judging over the screen, while he is amazing at it.
Best,
Joey

Hi Marcos,

I suspect the bottle itself has some age, and that the inscription, as well as the leiwen border motif were possibly both added later.
Your comment about the use of simplified characters seems to reinforce this thought.

Tom

Thanks Joey ;D I am flattered.

I was hesitated to leave any comments since I have no much experience on the stone. Altho I do like the overall look of the bottle. The character is not that bad carved. I still agree with Joey and Tom's assumption which the leiwen border and the characters would be added on later.

Best,

Steven

Dear Steven,

    You consistently identify beauties on the internet, and as a result get great buys.
'I calls 'em likes I sees 'em '!
Best,
Joey