Regal Pheasant Wooden 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 fine wood marked by swirling grain patterns and shaped to a rounded rectangular form. The bottle is carved in low relief of a pheasant with wings outstretched, his stare punctuated by a light green bead. This unusual wooden snuff bottle is finished with a red carnelian stopper and fitted with an intact bone snuff spoon.