Snuff Bottle
Unknown Artist
Medium
Porcelain
Dimensions
H. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 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
14.40.570a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite porcelain snuff bottle hails from China's Qing dynasty during the Qianlong period (1736–95), a age of imperial artistry and refinement. Standing just 3¼ inches (8.3 cm) tall, its compact form was designed for portability, fitting neatly into a pocket or sleeve. Snuff bottles like this one were essential accessories for the elite, used to store and dispense finely ground tobacco snuff—a luxury import from the West that became a status symbol among Manchu nobility and literati. Porcelain snuff bottles from this era exemplify the pinnacle of Jingdezhen kiln techniques, where artis...