Chinese snuff bottles from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty - Cleveland Museum of Art

Chinese snuff bottles from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty - Cleveland Museum of Art

It is a precious collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, belonging to the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty in China (1736-1795). Emperor Qianlong is one of the famous emperors in Chinese history. This snuff bottle is made of copper and features painted enamel craftsmanship, which was highly valued at the time and typically only possessed by royalty and nobility. It is depicted with European figures, indicating that it may have been influenced by Western art or catered to the European market. This work is not only a practical container, but also a witness to the exchange of Chinese and Western cultures. By Noah L Mrs. Butkin donated it as a gift for the 75th anniversary of the museum's establishment.
Snuff bottle container

Snuff bottle container

It is a compact container used to hold snuff. This snuff box features a conical side wall that gradually widens upwards, a slightly independent base, and a flat lid with a spherical handle. The bottom and lid of the box are decorated with relief ribbons of sweet potato leaves. The side of the box is painted with two polygonal areas, showcasing a rich and colorful scene of merchants and port scenery. These scenes are surrounded by golden frames and adorned with red and deep red as well as metallic mirrors. Collected in the Wawel Royal Castle in Krakow, Poland - National Art Collection.
Enamel snuff bottles from the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty in the 18th century

Enamel snuff bottles from the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty in the 18th century

A snuff bottle is a container for holding snuff, which is delicate, compact, and easy to carry. During the Qing Dynasty, inhaling snuff became a popular trend among all social classes, and the pursuit of the material and craftsmanship of snuff bottles was even more extreme. The National Palace Museum in Taipei has a large collection of the most exquisitely crafted snuff bottles from the Qing Dynasty. This Yongzheng style enamel snuff bottle is made of milky white glass in the shape of bamboo nodes, with a color resembling spotted bamboo. There are brown spots on the green and yellow ground, and two small insects on the bamboo nodes. The bottom is painted with Lingzhi Kai Guang, and the red version of the regular script "Made in Yongzheng Year" is inside.