Pair of Chinese Glass Snuff Bottles
€71.88
A miniature vessel in the tradition of Qing dynasty snuff bottles, crafted in rare materials: glass, jade, coral, or agate.
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Description
Held between two fingers, a vessel this small can hold a world entire.
Snuff bottles became one of the defining collectible forms of Qing dynasty China, emerging in the seventeenth century as tobacco and powdered medicine were carried in miniature portable containers rather than the larger boxes common in Europe. Aristocrats, scholars, and merchants competed to acquire examples in rare materials: inside-painted glass, carved jade, coral, and agate. Workshops across Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai specialized in their production. Matched pairs occupied their own category within this tradition, sought for the equilibrium achieved when two bottles of identical form and surface treatment are placed side by side.
This pair is handcrafted from glass, each bottle formed by hand to achieve a smooth, even surface and a balanced proportion. Making two vessels at matching scale requires sustained attention throughout forming and finishing, since slight differences in technique produce visible variation in the final silhouette. The glass is clear, and its transparency allows light to move through each bottle in a way that changes with the angle and quality of the room’s light.
Sold as a set of two glass snuff bottles. Exact dimensions and weight are not currently listed; contact us before purchase if precise measurements matter to your display. Country of origin: China.
These bottles suit a desk, shelf, or glass-fronted cabinet where they can be positioned close to one another. They require no care beyond occasional dusting with a dry cloth.
