Innovation

     The Glass was a new medium in the reign of Kangxi, and with its transparency with colour variations, thus the term “Jikeaiwan 極可愛翫” (adorned effortlessly) was given to describe this material. The monochrome glass is possible for cutting, carving, or painting gold colour, and also having the techniques of gold-sprinkling and mottled glass developed along the process. Further combining with the painted enamels, brilliant colours were painted onto the glass to create radiant snuff bottles.

     The use of painted enamels was a new craft, combined with the metal base to produce the exquisite glamour of the Qing palace. Even gold and silver were applied in carvings and inlays to deliver the uniqueness of style and technique. Moreover, glasses in different colours were overlaid and carved, which thus became the new overlay glass craft. Later on, even the inner-painting method was developed exclusively for the snuff bottles. Form the materials to the techniques are all innovations of the snuff bottle’s craftsmanship.

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  Red glass snuff bottle

  Qianlong reign (1735-1796), Qing dynasty

  • 3cm, W: 2.7cm

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  Blue glass gourd-shaped snuff bottle with gold tracing

  Qianlong reign (1735-1796), Qing dynasty

  • H: 6.5cm, W: 3.25cm

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  Transparent blue glass snuff bottle with an engraved floral design

  Qianlong reign (1735-1796), Qing dynasty

  • H: 9.3cm, W: 5cm

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  Black faux-aventurine glass snuff bottle

  Qianlong reign (1735-1796), Qing dynasty

  • H: 5.3cm, W: 2.7cm

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  Light-blue glass snuff bottle

  18th - 19th century, Qing dynasty

  • H: 4.3cm, Max Diam. 2.7cm

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  Glass-body enamelware snuff bottle in the shape of a bamboo section

  Yongzheng reign (1722-1735), Qing dynasty

  • H: 6.5cm, W: 2.2cm, D: 1.9cm

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  43 glass-body painted enamel snuff bottles stored in a maki-e lacquer box

  Qianlong reign (1735-1796), Qing dynasty

  • L: 26.9cm, W: 21.2cm, H: 22cm

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  Glass-body painted enamel snuff bottle with a figural design

  Qianlong reign (1735-1796), Qing dynasty

  • H: 7cm, W: 2.7cm, Diam. of mouth: 1.2cm

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  White glass snuff bottle with a copper-body painted enamel case of “kui”-dragon design on a black background

  Yongzheng reign (1722-1735), Qing dynasty

  • enamel case L: 5.2cm, W: 3.4cm
  • snuff bottle L: 4.5cm, W: 2.5cm

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  Copper-body painted enamel snuff bottle with rabbits and multicolored clouds on a black background

  Yongzheng reign (1722-1735), Qing dynasty

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  Copper-body cloisonne painted enamel snuff bottle with a western figural design and two shoulder rings

  Qianlong reign (1735-1796), Qing dynasty

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  Red-on-white glass overlay snuff bottle with a wrapper design

  Qianlong reign (1735-1796), Qing dynasty

  • H: 5.7cm

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  Glass inside-painted snuff bottle with fishing and herding scenes

  Zhou Leyuan, 1885, Qing dynasty

  • H: 6.0cm, W: 2.9cm