Antique Tibetan Snuff Bottle Carved Silver Turquoise Coral filigree neck & base signed/stamped in Sanskrit on bottom, rounded oval body. Cap has silver spoon with coral cab at top, unusual shaped alternating coral and turquoise stones (6) around, neck has silver rope with filigree under, body seems carved silver 8 heart shaped coral stone and 8 oval turquoise stones adorning front back and sides in set of 4, 2 coral, 2 turquoise, body of bottle is rounded oval 5 cm wide at center, 3.5 cm deep at center, rather than flat 7.5 cm tall, 2 cm rounded at base. Top is 2 cm wide with a dome topped by coral. No missing stones, silver has some discoloration due to age, unpolished.

Snuff bottles have fascinated Western and Asian collectors since they were first produced in China in the early part of the 18th century. Conceived as precious containers for ground tobacco imported into China, snuff bottles were initially made for the emperor and the court, and eventually produced in much greater quantities for a public who enjoyed their functionality as well as their display as symbols of status.

These exquisite miniatures, which measure between one-and-a-half and three inches high, not only illustrate the technical virtuosity of Qing dynasty craftsmen, but also provide a window on life and culture in late imperial China.

For example, early 18th-century imperial glass and painted enamel bottles show the influence of the Jesuits at court, and the imperial fascination with Western technical advances. Carved examples in different mediums such as jade and glass illustrate the relationships between craftsmen working at the imperial workshops, and the favored motifs across materials. Later 19th-century versions reveal how earlier imperial tastes became popular with the general public, while confirming the continuing status of snuff use in Qing society.

The field of snuff bottles is vast, and like other categories of Qing dynasty works of art they include examples across many mediums: glass, stone, jade, agate, wood, bone, lacquer and mixed media.

To sharpen one’s eye, it is helpful to look at as many examples as possible. If you’re attracted to a particular type, such as carved overlay glass, focus on this group to understand subtle differences in workmanship. For example, one bottle may exhibit a rare color combination, while others may show a rare scene, or very fine carving.