snuff bottle with stopper

Bi Rongjiu, artist

active late 1800s

snuff bottle with stopper, 1890–1920, Qing dynasty (1644–1911) to Republic of China (1911–1949)

Where object was made: China

Material/technique: reverse painting on glass; coral

Dimensions:
Object Height/Diameter (Height x Diameter): 7.62 x 2.54 cm
Object Height/Diameter (Height x Diameter): 3 x 1 in

Credit line: William Bridges Thayer Memorial

Accession number: 1928.1847

On display: Loo Gallery

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Label texts

Empire of Things

This snuff bottle has a glass overlay with black bats. Bats are considered lucky in China because the written symbols for “bat” and “luck” share similar pronunciation. Consequently, bats are a symbol of good luck.

Archive Label 2003:
Black bats made of glass-overlay decorate this snuff bottle. Bats are auspicious in China because ideographs (written signs or symbols that represent an idea or concept) for both “bat” and “luck” share the same pronunciation. Consequently, bats foretell of good fortune.