C9 An ex-Mongolian snuff bottle

Description

Description: The bottle that is shown here in the first two pictures does not exist anymore. It is here only for the purpose of showing that not all snuff bottles have born as such. There are examples of other things that has been converted into snuff bottles, being the most common case that of medicine bottles of the Qing dynasty. Because of its style, it should have been a Mongolian bottle. When I purchased this bottle, it was evident that the ceramic body was quite old. The possibility that it was indeed a rare Song period Ge ware converted into a snuff bottle was too much suggestive; but the only way to verify that has been the destruction of the metal assembly. After removing the metals, the ceramic core that is shown in the other pictures has been found. It is indeed an old Ge glazed item, in bad conditions. The thickness of the glaze is higher than that of the body. Nevertheless, the color of the paste seems not correct for Song ware. Unless it is matter of heavy staining, it should be datable to not later than the 18^th century. In any case, a damaged object that has been treasured by converting it into a snuff bottle.

Mark:

Dating:  Probably the recycling of the old Ge pot into a snuff bottle has been made in the 19th century.

Material: Porcelain, pelter, brass

Size:

Stopper: Agate turtle shaped with bone spoon

Provenance: Collection Mario Dalmazzo

References:

Notes:  About the Mario Dalmazzo Collection, see the Notes of the description of C8 bottle.