Inside Painted Glass Snuff Bottle With Metal Filigree Overlay Appraisal

Inside-Painted Glass Snuff Bottle with Metal Filigree Overlay

This is a decorative glass snuff bottle, a classic Chinese art form, featuring an 'inside painting' technique where the artwork is intricately applied to the interior walls of the vessel through the narrow neck. The bottle is of a flattened ovoid shape with a short, cylindrical neck. The interior scene depicts a traditional landscape or village scene with rooftops, foliage, and architectural elements in a palette of ochre, amber, blue, and green. The exterior is notable for its ornate silver-toned metal filigree or 'shuanglong' style overlay. This metallic cage-work includes a decorative collar around the shoulders, a scrollwork base, and two side handles that appear to be modeled in the shape of stylized dragon heads or scrolls. The metal has a dark, aged patina, suggesting it may be a silver alloy or pewter. The stopper is present but appears to be a simple, dark, flat-topped cap, missing the traditional spoon associated with functional snuff bottles. Regarding condition, the metal shows significant tarnish and surface oxidation consistent with age, likely dating to the mid-to-late 20th century as a high-quality souvenir or collector's piece. The glass appears intact without visible cracks, though the interior painting shows some darkening, possibly from moisture or degradation of the pigments over time. There are no visible maker's marks or signatures in the provided image.