Back to list Copper snuff box with silver inlay and Western figures decoration, Qianlong reign (1736-1795), Qing dynasty

Description

This rectangular box with silver inlay has an enamel piece on the front of the box lid and an image depicting an elegantly dressed Western man and woman nestled under a tree. The image is painted in a pointillist style with bright, vivid colors and meticulous craftsmanship. The back of the enamel piece contains the black mark “Hu Siming” in regular script. “Records in the ‘Huo Ji Dang’ of the Qing Imperial Household Department Workshops” mentions Hu Siming delivering painted enamel works to the Qing court from the Guangdong sea regions in 1741 and 1742. This Qianlong era silver snuff box is a rare example of an artisan’s name recorded in both historical documents and the artifact itself. The artifact is undoubtedly modeled after Western snuff boxes, further showcasing the maturity of Guangdong craftsmen in mastering Western enameling techniques and styles during the Qianlong era.