Peking Glass Snuff Bottle

I am an inside-painted amber Peking glass snuff bottle from the late 19th century. My little hat is called a stopper. I’m proud to say that mine (stopper) is original and made of the same material. My shape is called HU and my color is amber which provides a beautiful background for the two miniature paintings on my interior. (Referred to as inside painting) I have a Shanshui (landscape) on one side with recluses in a boat and a floral scene on the other. The Chinese have been practicing the art of creating these inside paintings for over 100 years. An artist creates these miniature works of art using a very fine brush or paint stick and extraordinary patience.

Mary Hulton Phillips, founder of The Maridon Museum, welcomed me into her home in 1977. This was long before she thought of founding a museum. She found snuff bottles to be wonderful little works of art and continued to expand her collection even after the museum opened its doors in 2004. I am now residing in a special exhibit of 55 snuff bottles in the Side Gallery. We are an interesting group of diversified companions representing the beauty of jade, porcelain, opal, cloisonné, lapis lazuli, cinnabar, mother of pearl, Baltic amber, ivory, malachite, agate, turquoise, tiger eye, plique-a-jour enamel, and enamel on copper. We are all unique and beautiful. Please stop to see us when you visit.