Skip to main content
Curiosa
Sign InTry a scan

Chinese Lapis Lazuli Snuff Bottle, Late Qing Dynasty to Republic Period (1900-1940)

A small blue lapis lazuli snuff bottle with high-relief carvings of flowers and a matching blue stopper, held in a person's hand.

Estimated value

$150 - $350

Rarity

Average(4/10)

Category

Asian Art

Era

circa 1900-1940

Origin

🇨🇳 China

Authenticity

Moderate(65%)
41

CHINESE LAPIS LAZULI SNUFF BOTTLE, LATE QING DYNASTY TO REPUBLIC PERIOD (1900-1940): IDENTIFICATION

A hand-carved snuff bottle executed in natural lapis lazuli, featuring high-relief 'clambering' floral or lingzhi fungus motifs. The stone displays characteristic deep lazurite blue with visible brassy pyrite inclusions and grayish-white calcite streaks. The bottle stands on a small oval footrim and possesses a matching carved stopper.

Compare with other Asian art pieces in the archive: Chinese Archaistic Carved Jade Figure, Hongshan/Shang Style, Balinese Art Deco Wooden Sculpture of a Winged Celestial (Kinnari), Chinese Archaistic 'Taotie' and 'Chilong' Jade Pendant.

DYNASTY & PROVENANCE

Lapis lazuli was highly prized in the Qing court (1644–1912), often associated with the 'Temple of Heaven' due to its celestial color. While historically imported from the Badakhshan mines in Afghanistan, production of smaller scholars' objects like this bottle peaked between 1880 and 1930 to meet ...
Lapis lazuli was highly prized in the Qing court (1644–1912), often associated with the 'Temple of Heaven' due to its celestial color. While historically imported from the Badakhshan mines in Afghanistan, production of smaller scholars' objects like this bottle peaked between 1880 and 1930 to meet both domestic demand and the growing Western export market centered in Shanghai and Canton.

SCARCITY

Average55-70%
CommonLegendary

Typical antique shop fare. Requires some searching but regularly available. This is where most genuine antiques fall.

Rarity 4/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 33 asian items at rarity 4 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

  • Standard antique shop items
  • Regularly available
  • Moderate collector interest

Confidence Factors

  • Presence of pyrite and calcite inclusions supports natural stone over resin or glass copies
  • Surface wear and dirt accumulation in recesses consistent with mid-20th-century age
  • Carving style is commercially focused, common in Republic-era export pieces
How does authenticity detection work?

ASIAN ART SCHOLAR'S TAKE

Asian Art Specialist

East Asian Art Expert

The material is clearly identifiable as lapis lazuli due to specific inclusions, and the form is a standard late-period snuff bottle, though the absence of an interior view limits the assessment of carving quality.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Pyrite 'gold' inclusions and calcite 'white' streaks confirm natural lapis lazuli mineral composition.
  • 2Form and carving technique are diagnostic of late 19th/early 20th-century Chinese lapidary workshops.
  • 3The irregular, hand-cut mouth and footrim indicate pre-modern industrial production.

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •Lack of a snuff spoon suggests it may have been used as a decorative 'cabinet piece' rather than a functional container.
  • •Surface luster is somewhat dull, which could indicate a lower grade of stone or exposure to acidic cleaning agents.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Examine the interior for hollowing; a well-hollowed bottle (thin walls) significantly increases value.
  • →Check for a 'spoon' attached to the stopper; bone, horn, or ivory spoons are period-correct.
  • →Perform a UV light test; natural lapis typically remains inert, while dyed stones may show fluorescence.

CONDITION & GRADE

Condition

Small chips visible on the high points of the carved foliage and along the outer edge of the mouth. The stopper appears original but may lack the interior bone or ivory spoon typically associated with functional snuff bottles.

ASIAN ART VALUATION

$150 - $350

Updated: May 10, 2026

Who buys this

Snuff bottle specialists and mineral-carving collectors focused on the late Qing and Republic transition periods.

What increases value

  • •Degree of internal hollowing (thinner is better)
  • •Vibrancy of the 'Imperial' blue color
  • •Completeness of the stopper and spoon assembly

What lowers value

  • •Significant chips to the relief carving
  • •If the stone is found to be dyed (though pyrite suggests it is natural)
  • •Lack of a functional spoon

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Deep ultramarine color with minimal white calcite
  • •Paper-thin hollowing that allows light through the stone walls
  • •Provenance from a named 20th-century collection

Grade & condition

Condition of high-relief carvings, stone color saturation, and degree of internal hollowing.

Rarity & demand

AverageModerate demandModerate liquidity
Browse similar asian objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

BR

bruinsma
The Connoisseur•59 items

COMMENTS

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Sign in to leave a comment

ABOUT ASIAN ART

Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other Asian art and antiques.

Asian Art value and rarity guide

SHARE THIS CURIOSITY

Have your own curiosities to discover?

Scan Your Curiosity