Dragon in Clouds Snuff Bottle

This is a rather unusual take on the dragon in the clouds theme.

It appears that there are two versions. One with five parts showing, and another with only three.

The cool thing about the bottle is that there is some kind of metallic paint underneath, and so when you turn it in the light just the right way, you see this beautiful gold metallic paint. It seems to mainly show through the black areas but shows through some others as well.

I have no idea how they achieved this cool effect and I only noticed it by accident. A happy accident that I happened to be looking at it at night under incandescent lighting.

It is my theory, and mine alone I might add (so take it or leave it) that this strange theme can be traced back to Bi Rongjiu. It is written that he gained favor with the Dowager Ci-xi when an official presented one of his dragon in cloud bottles to her.

The bottle is made of amber glass and the shape and style of the bottle is very similar to some other older bottles that I have, so that leads me to believe that this bottle is old.

The top probably doesn't go with the bottle - it's a nice rose quartz.