Snuff Bottle
Unknown Artist
Medium
Porcelain
Dimensions
H. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm)
Classification
Snuff Bottles
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong period (1736–95)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913
Accession Number
14.40.564a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite porcelain snuff bottle hails from China's Qing dynasty during the Qianlong period (1736–95), a golden age of imperial artistry and porcelain production at the famed Jingdezhen kilns. Standing just 2 3/4 inches (7 cm) tall, these diminutive vessels were designed to hold powdered tobacco snuff, introduced to China by European Jesuits in the 17th century. By the Qianlong era, snuff-taking had become a refined pastime among scholars, officials, and the elite, transforming these bottles into coveted status symbols often carried in sleeves or pockets. Crafted from fine porcelain, the...