At the present time, small snuff bottles are rarely made. But in the last century, they were made for personal use, for they are less heavy to carry around. This is a pocket size bottle made out multi color agate, part of the Chalcedony family. The colors are streaks of black colors blending into a rust background with spots of crystalline quartz. The combination resembles an abstract painting. The flattened globular shape tapers to a flat oval foot. The top is slightly concave which is a good sign of age. The bottle is well hollowed and it feels good to the touch. A modern agate stopper is a good match for the bottle.
This bottle is among a group of snuff bottles I purchased from an English collector who was in the Far East serving in the British Navy The time was late 1970's when Deng Xiaoping, the Premier of China after the Cultural Revolution, encouraged the production of art objects to be sold for foreign cash. Experienced snuff bottles artisans created beautiful snuff bottles at this time, many were made of different varieties of stone and gemstone. This small snuff bottle is a fine example from that time.
Date: after 1970's
Dimensions: 1.75" W x 0.75"D x 2 .25"H
Condition: original condition, in good condition