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Hi Folks,
Prowling through eBay a few weeks ago, I found this piece, catalogued as a perfume bottle, which thought I would share with you.

The spoon indicates that it is in fact an elaborate snuff bottle, the like of which I have never seen before. The nicely decorated but unmarked white metal pagoda, to me indicates it is probably silver, and made circa 1900 to 1920.

The green stone section looks to be jadeite, and the tubular shape and the pronounced notch indicates it is an archer's ring. So the archer's ring cannot be earlier than the 18th century, as jadeite was rarely if ever used in China prior to that date.

Anybody disagree with my conclusions, or can show me another? Fingers crossed it is not new.

Your comments are invited.
Regards
Tony

Great find..yes, natural Jadeite, and definitely not new.
Ernest

Tony,

I have never seen a snuff bottle like this. I can't comment on the age of the components. You are more expert in that area than I. My only comment is that this would be an ornamental object - not made for real use. I would never want to carry that in my pocket!

Cheers,
Stan

Hi Tony, I believe it is silver and more specifically silver gilt. Appropriate wear to the gilding on the body of the bottle and on the end of the spoon indicates both age and use. If you compare that wear to the gilding in the hard to get to places on the piece, it seems quite genuine and difficult to fake. This also may have been carried on a necklace/chain. Don't know enough to suggest a more accurate dating. Might hail from Mongolia/Tibet!

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