Asian Arts | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries | Message Board



Message Board
Asian Art Forums

Message Listing by Date:
AsianArt.com Main Forum Message Index | Back | Post a New Message | Search | Private Mail | FAQ
Subject:snuff bottle w/writing on silver spoon
Posted By: Patrick Norton Sat, Jan 21, 2012 IP: 108.196.229.139

Got this snuff bottle today at an estate sale for a couple bucks. Has writing on the spoon, any clue to what this says; top seems to be jadeite?







Subject:Re: snuff bottle w/writing on silver spoon
Posted By: Ernest Wilhelm Sun, Jan 22, 2012

Top looks more like Jadeite than glass..can't be sure.
Ernest

Subject:Re: snuff bottle w/writing on silver spoon
Posted By: Patrick Norton Mon, Jan 23, 2012

Thanks Ernest, pretty sure its jadeite too, has a couple tinny tiny scratches which are black. More photos of the stone.
One internet translation on the spoon was; "bao cheng jia pure sliver" ???

Qianlong... Hongli took the title of Prince Bao ... son of the Imperial Noble Consort Jia, bore the title Prince Cheng of the First Rank?

Hoping "Rat" can get a better reading or confirm this one. Its an old bottle but skeptical its 18th century.







Subject:Re: snuff bottle w/writing on silver spoon
Posted By: rat Tue, Jan 24, 2012

hard to see clearly but the second and third characters (from the top of the spoon) do read "cheng" and "jia", the final character reads "yi", which means several things, but is also a surname, which I think may be the case here: maker's name.

Subject:Re: snuff bottle w/writing on silver spoon
Posted By: Patrick Norton Wed, Jan 25, 2012

Thank you Rat, it is hard to make out the characters. Translation looks good enough; it is a real old bottle and any cleaning would cause damage. Not really an item I collect so I will leave it alone. Thanks again Rat. Great stone on top.

Subject:snuff bottle w/writing on silver spoon
Posted By: Patrick Norton Mon, Jan 23, 2012

Couple more photos; would be nice to get a date or timeline on this light blue to green Chinese overlay carved glass on the white base.







Subject:Re: snuff bottle w/writing on silver spoon
Posted By: LEE Fri, Jan 27, 2012

This glass bottle is old. probably 19th century. The mark on the spoon or on the bottom of the cap is quite common. It must the the silver smith shop mark.

Subject:Re: snuff bottle w/writing on silver spoon
Posted By: Patrick Norton Sat, Jan 28, 2012

I understand marks on snuff bottles are quite common, I have a couple marked snuff bottles that were obviously made within the last few years. Not a collector of snuff bottles and purchased this one because it shows signs of use. Some people claim snuff bottles were okimono items and left on shelves for 300 years and that is why their 18th century snuff bottles are not spoiled, corrupted, or polluted. Not an expert on snuff bottles. Just looked well worn and the stone is a gorgeous match to the bottle. Photo of common marks on new bottles.



Subject:Re: snuff bottle w/writing on silver spoon
Posted By: George Ingraham Wed, Mar 21, 2012

A beautiful overlay bottle ..

The technique used here, is one where the green overlay glass is "blobbed" over the opaque white glass body.. Unlike the more desirable fully dipped and carved overlays.

Beautiful bottle just the same, and I agree about the likelyhood of it being 19th century.

I have a few stoppers with silver collar and spoon like this one.. I absolutely love em ! They are a little treasure all by themselves.

Mine have similar silversmiths maker marks on the underside of the collar like yours.

Yours spoon is especially wonderful to have that script on it, and fantastic you were able to have that translated !

Depending on the quality of the bottle, these silver spoons can be more valuable than the actual bottle..

Another possibility for the cabochon stopper.. Could be chrysoprase.

Congrats on finding this one at the estate sale for a couple dollars.

I will guess a value on the stopper/silver spoon about 50.00+ ..

As for the bottle, I am not as good putting a value to these overalys.. , but would like to say it is a nice one.. I have not added any of this type of bottles to my collection yet, but would expect to pay at least 80 for it.


Subject:Re: snuff bottle w/writing on silver spoon
Posted By: Patrick Norton Thu, Mar 22, 2012

Thanks, I was going to start a collection of these but after watching the snuff bottles on eBay I am unable to find anything that even looks antique. The site is flooded with "one of a kind" 18th and 19th century hand carved (molded glass) snuff bottles with multible listings. My collection of snuff bottles is not growing at all. But, I keep watching and so far not impressed by the same listings daily.

Subject:Re: snuff bottle w/writing on silver spoon
Posted By: George Ingraham Thu, May 24, 2012

I see you decided to try your luck on eBay with this one..

I will be watching and possibly bid on it..

Good luck !



Asian Arts | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries | Message Board