The opaline (milk glass) has a deep blue overlay that has been carefully carved out leaving bold images of birds and flowers. The bird has a long tail, likely to be a pheasant or phoenix, and the 4 petal flower a plum blossom, The carving carried out in clean crisp lines are identical on both sides. The bottle is not flattened like most snuff bottles but a solid globular shape. The oval base is outline with a thin band of blue glass. The top is not round but oval, and the opening is not quite centered. Both are good proofs of age. It is matched with a lapis lazuli cap encased in brass with a brass spoon.
Dating: 1900's to 1920's
Dimensions: 2 inches wide, 1 inch deep and 3 inches high
Condition: excellent condition, dust collected under the carvings, and inside the bottle