Snuff Bottle
Unknown Artist
Medium
Soft paste porcelain
Dimensions
H. 4 in. (10.2 cm)
Classification
Snuff Bottles
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Yongzheng period (1723–35)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913
Accession Number
14.40.583a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite snuff bottle, crafted in soft paste porcelain during China's Qing dynasty (1644–1911), the Yongzheng period (3–35), exemplifies the era's masterful porcelain artistry. Standing just 4 inches (10.2 cm) tall, these diminutive vessels were designed to hold powdered tobacco snuff, a luxury introduced via European trade and popularized among the Chinese elite. Adorned with human figures—likely depicting scenes from daily life or mythology—the bottle reflects the refined aesthetic of Yongzheng court porcelain, known for its delicate forms and subtle elegance. Soft paste porcelain, a ...