Cabinet-style bottle carved from a multi-colored piece of quartz crystal. The exterior of the bottle has been carved in high-relief with melon-fruits (gua), twisting vines, and large curling leaves. The main body of the bottle has been detailed with segments to help identify it as a large central melon-fruit, and the twisting vines at the base of the bottle provide a sturdy foot for the bottle to rest upon. The stopper is original, is carved from the same type of material as the bottle and is carved with leaves and a very small melon-fruit in relief. A repair has been made to a crack in the stopper that (most likely) occurred when (what looks to be) a stained bone replacement spoon was being added to the piece.
The material is quite interesting in that the front half of the bottle has a distinct purple hue, amethyst, while the rest of the bottle has a green hue (green aventurine) caused by small reflective inclusions of fuchsite (chromium rich mica) that can clearly be seen (in the third photo) within the matrix of the material. Although this bottle is a product of the late 19th century move toward producing snuff bottles for foreign consumption, and not for actual use as a snuff container, it is a wonderful example of a creative use of very interesting material. The motif on the exterior symbolizes fertility and a wish for many sons which is synonymous with continuous prosperity for coming generations. This bottle would be a great addition for any collector who has an interest in hardstone or cryptocrystalline quartz bottles, and the wide variety of material that they were produced in.
