A GREEN OVERLAY ON 'SNOWFLAKE' GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE
Imperial, attributed to the Palace Workshops, Beijing, 1750-1820
Of apple-green on an opalescent snowflake ground, of flattened, rounded form, with a cylindrical neck and a neatly carved oval footrim, continuously carved with a tree shrew cavorting in the branches of fruiting leafy vines; stopper.
2 1/4in (5.7cm) high
Footnotes:
1750-1820 霏雪地套綠料刻松鼠葡萄鼻煙壺一件
御製 或為北京宮廷作坊製

Provenance:
Robert Hall, June 1983
Joan and Ted Dorf Collection, no. 213

The depiction of a squirrel, or tree shrew, climbing among leafy vines is often seen on snuff bottles being symbolic of fertility as they produce large litters. The emphasis on producing many sons and a continuing lineage would be a clear message to the owner of this bottle, although other scholars have suggested that this motif is an expression of a wish for promotion to a higher rank of officialdom.

One tiny outer mouth frit. An exceedingly elegant bottle.