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

Hi All.

This is a new one on me (which isn't hard) that came via a mixed lot at auction.

The panel is not IP'd from inside as the inside shows nothing but the base glass. So an IP'd panel set on top of the base glass and surrounded by the overlay glass.

To the naked eye the painted panel is a jumble but with a loupe you can see a number of horses, the reverse panel is similar. Carved handles to the sides and a pink coral stopper with a brass collar and white metal spoon.

Anyone seem anything similar ?

Regards all, Adrian.

Adrian

These are turn of the 19th to 20th century bottles.  They are painted on the inside (on top of the glass) and then overlaid with clear glass windows.  I have two similar ones but the panels are cracked.  Hard to find in perfect condition.   Yours is pretty good!

I have never held one of these in hand.. I did not know the process you mention Pat.  How in the world would they add an overlay to the interior of the bottle after painted ?  Seems like an impossible task.

I do like your bottle very much Adrian.  The bottle shape seems slightly off to me for these, but I can surely be wrong. 

I don't either but its definitely paint under there.. somehow.

Hi Pat and George,

Thank you for the input and info.

It's a bit vertically challenged being 1.75 " high so the detail in the panel looks far better in the picture I posted than in real life. The stopper, if it's original to the bottle, seemed to suggest a better bottle as the coral is perfect and a nice pink.

If it's painted in enamel does it get fired in the process of making it !

Surprised at the age, I had a sense of it being newer from the feel of the painting.

Thank you both, Adrian.

The painting actually matches the transition period in IP (1850-1880) in its simplistic almost childlike characters and animals.  I own a dozen or so of these IP bottles.. so it might actually be a bit older.  Who knows for sure....

Forgot to mention that whatever the process is for inserting the windows somehow stresses and expands them so they crack over time. Both of mine are, and I have seen others similar

Dear George,

      I've seen examples but never bought any, since the quality of painting wasn't there in my opinion.
But imagine gluing a glass watch-face over a painted panel. That's basically what you have there.
Best,
Joey

Adrian,

I have read a number of descriptions and seen a number of pictures of this type of bottle over the years, but have not handle one as of yet.  Apparently rice paper paintings have been placed under the watch glass shield as well on some of these bottles.  Also mentioned with this type, as you discussed, some are indeed painted on the inside of the bottle to fill the watch glass area.  So my point as I understand it form my reading is there are a number of different methods used to create the image under a watch glass shield.  Just food for thought.

Charll

I remember something about the rice paper Charll... Maybe it was you who talked about it before on forum here..