Snuff Bottle
Unknown Artist
Medium
Amber
Dimensions
H. 3 1/2 in. (8.9 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 Edmund C. Converse, 1921
Accession Number
21.175.202a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite amber snuff bottle, hailing from China's Qing dynasty during the Qianlong period (6–95), exemplifies refined artistry of imperial-era craftsmanship. Snuff bottles like this one were portable containers for powdered tobacco, a luxury introduced by European traders in the 17th century They became status symbols among Qing scholars, officials, and the emperor himself, who amassed vast collections. Crafted during Qianlong's reign—a golden age of artistic patronage—this pocket-sized gem (just 3½ inches tall) reflects the era's obsession with miniaturist perfection and natural materia...