Agate Longevity Snuff Bottle

A mixture of finely powdered tobacco, herbs, and spices, snuff was introduced to China in the 17th century by Western diplomats. Initially reserved for ranking members of Qing-dynasty society, the practice provided an opportunity to display one's refined aesthetic through collectible snuff bottles. This late 19th-century snuff bottle is made of a brown-grey agate, smoothed to a rounded rectangular form. Ivory-toned inclusions on one side of the bottle have been carved in low relief of a young boy and a pheasant beneath a knotted pine tree. Regarded as an emblem of longevity, the pine tree is a common motif in Chinese art and is used metaphorically for friends who remain constant in adversity. The beautifully worked stone bottle is finished with a red stone stopper and fitted with an intact bone snuff spoon.