Set of 4 Hand-Painted Chinese Snuff Bottles

Description

Hand-painted Chinese snuff bottles, presented as a set of four in a silk-lined gift box, are among the most compact expressions of miniature art in the Chinese tradition. Each bottle fits between two fingers. Each surface holds a complete scene.

The snuff bottle emerged in Qing Dynasty China (1644-1912) as a uniquely Chinese response to snuff introduced via European trade routes. The form became a vehicle for the highest ambitions of Chinese miniaturists: painting on the interior glass surface at a scale that demands magnification to appreciate. The inside-painting technique, neihua, originated in the 18th century and required artists to use curved brushes inserted through the narrow opening. This set follows that painted glass lineage, four subjects in one collection.

Each of the four bottles is hand-formed from clear glass and painted on the interior surface using traditional neihua technique. The subjects vary across the set: landscapes, birds, figures, and botanical motifs represent the canonical themes of Chinese miniature art. Each bottle measures approximately 6 centimeters in height and 3 centimeters in width at the widest point. Fitted stoppers include a small spoon. The set is presented in a traditional silk-lined gift box. Variation between bottles is inherent to hand production.

Set of 4 hand-painted Chinese snuff bottles. Clear glass, interior neihua painting technique. Each approximately 6 cm tall, 3 cm wide. Four subjects: landscape, birds, figures, botanical. Fitted stoppers with spoon. Silk-lined gift box. Qing Dynasty miniature tradition. Ships from France.

Four complete objects, one complete gift. Inside-painted glass at this scale is rare. The Sanctuary sources directly from the tradition.