Chinese Perfume Bottle Depicting Gourd with Two Figures

A smoky crystal gourd with a small face looking out of its curling vine.

This perfume bottle depicting a gourd with two figures is from Hebei Province, China, and dates to the 19th century. It is carved rock crystal. Chinese snuff and perfume bottles were made in many materials, and gourds are a popular shape, often linked with good fortune and abundance. This one is tall and narrow, with a smoky gray body and shallow vertical ribbing. A small round face and swirling leaf and vine lines are carved in relief on one side. A domed amber colored stopper sits on the narrow neck. It is 1.25 inches wide, 0.75 deep and 3 high.

Small enough for a pocket, and detailed enough to need glasses.