Smoky Quartz Goldfish Snuff Bottle

Western diplomats introduced snuff, a mixture of powdered tobacco, herbs, and spices, to China in the 17th century. Members of the imperial court favored glass bottles over Western-style snuff boxes, commissioning exquisitely crafted bottles that were as much status symbols as storage containers. Sensitively carved to exploit the crystalline nature of smoky quartz, this fish-shaped bottle cleverly tips on its side, creating a mouth out of the round opening.