Chinese Hand Painted Porcelain Snuff Bottle. Artist's signature on base.

Chinese porcelain snuff bottle with hand-painted dandelion motif. Cylindrical body with tapered pinch on lower half, stem neck, and matching stopper, on raised circular foot.

Size: 3 1/2 x 1 1/2 in.

Chinese snuff bottles, popular from the Qing dynasty onward, are small, intricately crafted containers designed to hold powdered tobacco, which was believed to have medicinal properties. Made from a wide variety of materials—including glass, jade, agate, porcelain, ivory, and metal—these bottles were often exquisitely decorated with carved, painted, or inlaid designs depicting landscapes, figures, auspicious symbols, or calligraphy. Many glass snuff bottles feature inside painting, a technique in which artists paint detailed scenes on the interior surface, showcasing exceptional skill and patience. Beyond their practical function, snuff bottles became highly prized personal and collectible objects, reflecting status, taste, and the sophistication of Chinese decorative arts.

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