Two snuff bottles


Porcelain 'dragon' bottle: Daoguang mark and of the periodThe first a molded and enameled porcelain bottle, decorated around the side walls with a five-clawed, spirited dragon pursuing a flaming pearl, the flat base inscribed in iron-red with the four-character mark in seal script (surface wear, losses to enamels); the second a cinnabar lacquer bottle built on a metal core, the narrow sides carved in relief with two faux lion mask-and-ring handles and large flower blossoms among leafy scrolls, each main side inset with a metal-mounted white jade plaque similarly carved in low relief with a gnarled plum flower branch, all above neatly carved vertical lappet petals surrounding a gilt flat foot ring, framing an apocryphal Qianlong mark painted in gilt seal script.2 3/8 and 2 1/2in (6.1 and 6.4cm) high