Item number: X47

Year: AD 1880–1920

Material: Ivory

Size: 57.3 x 26.2 mm

Weight: 23.71 g

Provenance: Private Collector, Taiwan, 1980

This is a carved ivory Chinese snuff bottle dating from the late Qing dynasty to the Republican period (circa late 19th to early 20th century). The bottle is of ovoid form with a flattened body, surmounted by a domed neck and stopper carved in the form of a mouse. The ivory has developed a warm, creamy patina consistent with age.

The body is carved in high relief with a phoenix or a peacock perched amongst flowering branches, the plumage and petals finely detailed. The reverse continues the naturalistic theme with further blossoms and foliage. At the base, additional carved elements, including a small squirrel-like animal, integrate with the floral composition to form a continuous sculptural group. The carving demonstrates careful undercutting and layered relief, characteristic of decorative ivory work produced for the domestic and export markets during the late Qing and early Republican periods.

Snuff bottles were introduced into China in the late 17th century following the arrival of powdered tobacco from the Americas via European traders. The use of snuff was popularised at the Qing imperial court, particularly under the Kangxi Emperor, and rapidly became fashionable among officials and the scholarly elite. Because powdered tobacco needed to be kept dry in China’s humid climate, small airtight bottles with tightly fitting stoppers were developed. These bottles were carried on the person and often suspended from the belt.

Over time, the snuff bottle evolved from a purely functional container into a highly refined art form. They were produced in a wide range of materials, including glass, porcelain, jade, hardstone, metal, lacquer, and ivory. Ivory examples such as this were valued for the material’s smooth texture and suitability for intricate carving. Decorative themes frequently drew upon nature, auspicious symbolism, and references to harmony and prosperity.

By the late Qing and into the Republican period, snuff bottles continued to be made both for practical use and as collectors’ items, reflecting a long-established tradition of miniature craftsmanship in China. This example represents the enduring appeal of the snuff bottle as both an object of daily life and a finely worked decorative work of art.

物件編號: X47

年代: 公元 1880–1920 年

材質: 象牙

尺寸: 57.3 x 26.2 mm

重量: 23.71 g

來源: 台灣私人收藏 1980

此為一件中國象牙雕刻鼻煙壺，年代可追溯自清代晚期至民國時期（約十九世紀末至二十世紀初）。壺身呈卵形，器體略為扁平，頸部為圓拱形，其上配有一枚雕刻成老鼠形態的壺塞。象牙表面已形成溫潤、乳白色的包漿，與其年代相符。

壺身以高浮雕技法雕刻一隻鳳凰或孔雀棲息於開花枝條之間，羽毛與花瓣刻畫細緻。背面延續自然主題，飾以更多花朵與枝葉。壺底部另有附加雕刻元素，包括一隻似松鼠的小動物，與花卉構圖相互融合，形成連續性的立體雕刻群組。整體雕工展現出細緻的鏤空處理與層次分明的浮雕效果，此為清末至民國初期供應內銷及外銷市場之裝飾性象牙製品的典型特徵。

鼻煙壺於十七世紀晚期傳入中國，當時經由歐洲商人將源自美洲的粉末狀菸草帶入。鼻煙的使用在清代宮廷中受到推崇，尤以康熙皇帝時期為甚，並迅速在官員與士大夫階層之間流行。由於中國氣候潮濕，粉末菸草須保持乾燥，因此發展出體積小巧且配有緊密壺塞的密封容器。此類鼻煙壺通常隨身攜帶，並常懸掛於腰帶之上。

隨著時間推移，鼻煙壺由純粹實用的容器演變為高度精緻的藝術形式。其材質多樣，包括玻璃、瓷器、玉石、硬石、金屬、漆器及象牙等。象牙製品因材質細膩溫潤且適於精細雕刻而備受珍視。裝飾題材常取材於自然景象、吉祥寓意，以及象徵和諧與繁榮之意涵。

自清代晚期至民國時期，鼻煙壺除供實際使用外，亦作為收藏之物持續製作，反映中國長久以來的微型工藝傳統。此件作品體現鼻煙壺作為日常生活器物與精緻裝飾藝術品之持久魅力。