Featured Chinese tortoiseshell snuff bottle-age？

Back with another tortoiseshell item I am interested in! This time an inscribed snuff bottle veneered with tortoiseshell. I have found several similar snuff bottles inscribed at the bottom with “made during Tongzhi period “ in various auction houses, mostly labeled as Qing dynasty, I.e. https://www.cambiaste.com/uk/auction-0330/a-tortoiseshell-snuff-bottle-with-inscriptions-171777

https://www.zacke.at/auction/lot/95...ction-of-wu-rangzhi-1799-1870/?lot=44362&sd=1

https://www.cambiaste.com/uk/auction-0310/a-tortoiseshell-polyhedral-snuff-bottle-with-i-163777（Wu Peifu is a Minguo warlord lol and they still offered it as Qing)



that seems silly. And some of them even signed by famous figures from 1912 to 49, aka Minguo period.

What do you think? Could be a real Minguo antique or late as Chinese export?

 

And some Chinese auction houses do offer them as Minguo, but that’s all I can found from Chinese resources

 

Nice find, shammie. I think yours is Minguo (aka ROC), no earlier imo. And I don't doubt that some were made later as well.

 

Thank you again it’s not mine yet but since it qualifies for antique I am happy to make it mine… I feel like if they were made later, i.e. 70s, there should be more in better shape, also more often found in eBay or something ? And it’s interesting to note that they reached crazy price in Western auction so dunno who’s bidding for them. I just ordered one for £35 lol

 

There are many Western collectors, but also Chinese buyers in the West.
I don't know what has been happening in the world of snuff bottles lately, but bidding for reasonable - good quality bottles is going through the roof in some auctions. I am thinking of putting some of mine up for auction now that the market is like this.

 

Price for quality pieces always goes up. Maybe after another five years ?

they are probably too busy making money and no time for some research

 

Yes, Ma'm...Get, while the getting's good!