PROBABLY IMPERIAL GLASSWORKS, BEIJING, 1760-1860

Following the massive influx of minerals from Xinjiang province after 1759, there was a great demand for the wide range of semi-precious stones mined in the region. However, the material that was large enough for a snuff bottle was always flawed, prompting imitations in glass which could be made to look like flawless stone. The eighteenth-century Court took pleasure in all things novel, which included the concept of teasing the eye by recreating more precious materials in glass. Because of the versatility of glass as a material and the multitude of colors that were easily produced, it was often used to simulate such material as jade, jadeite, hardstones, realgar and amber, among others. The markings and color of the present bottle bring to mind agate.

The dragon scroll handles on this bottle, with their pierced, tight scrolls, are very unusual.