Hair Quartz 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 honors its material with a simple, flattened oblong form. The petite bottle is made of a material known as hair quartz, a clear quartz pierced by needle-like inclusions of black tourmaline. A favorite material of the snuff bottle carver, hair quartz evokes the gestural strokes of Chinese calligraphy and needs no further decoration. This exquisite snuff bottle is finished with a brass and red carnelian stopper and fitted with an intact bone snuff spoon.