IMPERIAL, JINGDEZHEN IMPERIAL KILNS, 1840-1861

Although unmarked, the five-clawed dragon suggests this bottle is Imperial, as does the evidence of other known examples, dated to mid-nineteenth century reigns, which are marked. It may have been made during the Taiping rebellion, when uncertainty over authority was created by the Tiapings being in charge of the area around Jingdezhen, while the Emperor still ruled in the north, inhibiting the use of Imperial reign marks.

Compare the bottle, probably from the same mold, bearing the mark Guanyao neizao (made in the official kilns) illustrated by H. Moss, V. Graham and K. B. Tsang, The Art of the Chinese Snuff Bottle: The J & J Collection, New York, 1993, no. 241.