What is the estimated value of this Chinese snuff bottle?

This 19th-century Chinese Carved Ruby-Red 'Peking' Glass Snuff Bottle has an estimated market value of £150 - £350. This valuation is based on recent comparable sales of similar Qing Dynasty workshop-produced snuff bottles, considering its good condition and authentic craftsmanship. Specialist auction houses in the UK or curated online platforms are recommended for sale to achieve this range.

What era is this Peking glass snuff bottle from?

This snuff bottle dates from the Qing Dynasty, specifically the 19th century. Its style, material, and craftsmanship, including the heavily worn and illegible seal mark on the base, are consistent with workshop production from that period. While it emulates earlier 18th-century Imperial wares, its characteristics confidently place it within the later 19th-century production.

What condition is this Chinese decorative art item in?

The snuff bottle is in good antique condition. It exhibits minor superficial surface scratches consistent with its age and handling. The seal mark on the base is heavily worn and illegible, and the cork and spoon of the stopper are later replacements. These minor issues have a minimal impact on its overall value as an authentic 19th-century piece.

Where should I sell this Chinese Peking glass snuff bottle?

For optimal results, it is strongly recommended to sell this Chinese Peking glass snuff bottle through specialist auction houses in the United Kingdom, such as Bonhams London or Woolley & Wallis. Alternatively, curated online platforms like Catawiki offer a broad international reach with competitive seller commissions, balancing reach and cost-effectiveness for items in this value range.

Is this Chinese snuff bottle authentic?

Yes, this snuff bottle is assessed as an authentic 19th-century Chinese product. The form, translucent ruby-red 'Peking glass' material, and carving style are all consistent with workshop production of the Qing Dynasty. The worn mark on the base further supports this dating, distinguishing it from modern reproductions and earlier Imperial pieces. The stopper's spoon is a modern replacement.

A Chinese Carved Ruby-Red 'Peking' Glass Snuff Bottle, Qing Dynasty, 19th Century

Estimated value: £150 - £350. A Chinese Carved Ruby-Red 'Peking' Glass Snuff Bottle, Qing Dynasty, 19th Century (Qing Dynasty, 19th Century) — a researched valuation with cited comparable sales in Decorative Art, from findthevalueof.com.

About this item

This is a fine example of a Chinese snuff bottle, a type of object that embodies the rich history of craftsmanship and cultural exchange during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). Originally created as functional containers for powdered tobacco, these miniature vessels evolved into highly prized works of art and status symbols. This bottle is crafted from a single piece of deep ruby-red glass, a material often called 'Peking glass', which was perfected in Imperial and private workshops during this era. The entire body is skillfully carved in high relief with a continuous scene of 'dragon fish' or carp amidst swirling waves. This is a highly auspicious motif in Chinese culture, symbolizing perseverance, success, and the transformation of a carp into a dragon. While the style emulates the prestigious wares of the 18th-century Qianlong period, the specific characteristics of this bottle, particularly the heavily worn and illegible seal mark on the base, confidently place its production in the 19th century. This design was a popular model, and numerous similar examples are known, establishing it as a collectible type. The market for good 19th-century examples remains active, though values are distinct from the much higher prices achieved for earlier, Imperial-marked pieces.

How the value was reached

The valuation is based on auction results for similar 19th-century carved ruby-red 'Peking' glass snuff bottles. The market for this type is well-established, though prices can vary based on carving quality and condition. The Aalders Auctions sale of a similar bottle for approximately £102 provides a low-end anchor. The eBay sale at approximately £371 indicates the potential value in a private sale context. The Bonhams Skinner result is for a group lot of seven bottles, making its per-item value much lower and useful only for establishing a market floor. This bottle's good carving and condition place it in the estimated range. Assuming a sale at the mid-estimate (£250), net proceeds would be approximately £200 - £212 after a typical seller's commission of 15-20%. A recommended reserve would be £150.

Comparable sales

A 19th-century Chinese peking glass ruby red snuff bottle, 8cm high and 6cm wide. It is in good vintage condition, though some inlet stone on the stopper and the spoon on the stopper are missing. — sold for US $499.00 (eBay), 2020-03-26
A large Chinese dark ruby glass snuff bottle and stopper, of baluster form, decorated with raised dragons, bats, and animals, with a coral stopper, height 9cm. — sold for $200 AUD (Aalders Auctions), 2024-11-17
Five Peking glass and two agate snuff bottles, China, 19th/20th century. The lot includes three snowflake Peking glass bottles (one with Shoulao and deer, one with flower vases, one with horses), a single overlay red bottle, a red bottle with mythical animals, and two agate bottles (one with bird-and-flower, one with 'double happiness' character design). — sold for US$640 (Bonhams Skinner), 2024-02-08
A CARVED AMBER SNUFF BOTTLE, 1760-1860 — sold for USD 3,000 (Christie's), 2016-09-14

Expert notes

There is a material uncertainty regarding the precise age of this bottle. While it presents as a 19th-century antique, this exact design is also known to have been reproduced in the 20th century. The pristine condition of the carving and the existence of many identical examples on the market could indicate a later production date. Before offering this piece for sale as a Qing Dynasty antique, a physical examination by a specialist to analyze the glass composition and tool marks on the base would be advisable to mitigate this risk.

This report is one of the worked examples in our guide What is your glass worth, and why?.