A PARCEL GILT BRASS SNUFF BOTTLE, 1860-1940 Japan. Of flattened shield form, with a pendent ruyi-head at the base, short waisted neck, and tall cylindrical mouth, the body patinated to a warm copper tone and parcel-gilt, the front and back bearing the same design of a central recessed panel with an array of chrysanthemum and other blossoms, encircled by eleven butterflies, flanked by two handles in the form of sinuous serpents with furcated tails as handles, with a chain strap.

Provenance: From an English private collection.
Condition: Excellent condition with minor old wear, microscopic nicks, shallow surface scratches.

Stopper: Green jadeite
Weight: 16.7 g
Dimensions: Height including stopper 63 mm. Diameter neck 6 mm and mouth 4 mm

This bottle belongs to a limited number of high-quality objects made during or shortly after the Meiji period (1868-1912) in Japan and more than likely created for export to China. The Japanese excelled with their highly creative and intricate works of art especially involving ivory, bronze, and lacquer.

Literature comparison:
Compare two closely related brass snuff bottles, one illustrated by Robert Hall, Chinese Snuff Bottle IV, London, 1991, page 6, no. 6, and the other illustrated by Bob Stevens, Snuff Bottles, New York, 1976, page 218, no. 812.



1860-1940年鎏金銅鼻烟壺
日本。扁平盾形，底部下飾如意，束頸，高筒口，通體為暖銅色包金，正反同為開光，内飾菊花和其他花卉，十一隻蝴蝶環繞，兩側有兩條蜿蜒曲折的蛇形耳，並帶有鏈帶。

來源：英國私人收藏
品相：品相優良，小磨損、刻痕，表面有淺劃痕。

壺蓋：翡翠
重量：16.7 克
尺寸：高 （含蓋）63 毫米，頸部直徑6 毫米及瓶口直徑4 毫米

此瓶屬於日本明治時期（1868-1912）或之後不久製造的可能是為出口到中國的，數量有限。日本人以其極富創意和復雜的藝術作品而著稱，尤其是象牙雕刻、青銅造像和漆器。

文獻比較：
比較兩件非常相近的銅質鼻烟壺，一件見Robert Hall，《Chinese Snuff Bottle IV》，倫敦，1991年，頁6，編號6；另一件見 Bob Stevens，《Snuff Bottles》，紐約，1976年，頁 218，編號812。