Sino-Tibetan Gold

Sino-Tibetan bone and silvered metal snuff bottle, richly inlaid with turquoise, coral and glass elements, dated to the late Qing Dynasty and the early 20th century, circa 1875–1925. Flattened pear-shaped form, this small snuff bottle stands out for the richness of its composite construction. Two substantial side plates in polished bone are integrated into a wholly worked silvered metal mount bearing delicate openwork and filigreed motifs, with beaded borders and vegetal decorations. Both faces are animated by numerous red and blue-green cabochons arranged in geometric and floral compositions, giving the whole a striking polychrome presence despite its small size. The neck and foot are also specially crafted, with several successive decorative registers. The base is closed by a metal plate adorned with a repoussé floral medallion. The snuff bottle preserves mainly its spoon stopper, in silvered metal and topped by a blue-green cabochon. The spoon is perfectly adapted to the neck and opening of the vial. The preservation of this functional ensemble is a notable feature for this type of object, as stoppers and spoons have frequently been lost or replaced over time. This piece well illustrates the intercultural character of the snuff bottle world: the form and function align with Chinese tradition developed under the Qing, while the bone construction, the abundance of worked metal, and the decorative use of turquoise and coral strongly reflect Tibetan artistic vocabulary. The Sino-Tibetan attribution thus appears the most balanced. The piece also has an interesting provenance. It comes from the former collection of José Luís de Azevedo Barreto Sachetti (1933–2011), a senior officer and pilot in the Portuguese Air Force, who, from the late 1960s to the early 2000s, assembled a collection of African and Asian art and antiquities including a notable set of Chinese snuff bottles. The piece then passed down through descendants before joining a private Belgian collection. According to the sale documentation, the spoon bears the inventory number “183” from that collection. The object is presented in good overall condition considering its age and delicate manufacture. Normal signs of use are present, with a few small losses or wear to the inlays, minor manufacturing irregularities, and a few small indentations in the metal. Yet the piece retains excellent decorative legibility and a pleasing overall harmony. Dimensions: height 6.5 cm, width about 3.9 cm, depth about 2.8 cm. Weight: 65.6 g. Neck diameter: 18 mm. Opening diameter: 9 mm. A particularly interesting piece for a collector wishing to explore the very specialized world of snuff bottles: it combines aesthetic quality, original construction, good overall condition, preserved spoon-stopper, and identifiable provenance, all while remaining within an accessible price range.

Estimation:€400

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