Chinese Shan Shui Relief Snuff Bottle, c. 1940s
Located in Chicago, IL
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 ela...
Resin
Vintage Chinese Carved Red Resin Double Happiness Snuff Bottle 20c
Located in Richmond, CA
A striking vintage Chinese carved resin snuff bottle dating to late Republic of China ROC period, early to mid-20c.
Resin
Vintage Chinese Relief Amber Snuff Bottle
Located in San Diego, CA
A vintage Chinese relief amber snuff bottle, circa 1970s.
Resin
Chinese Double Gourd "Root" Amber Snuff Bottle, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
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-dynast...
Other
Red Cinnabar Carved Snuff or Fragrance Bottle
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful cinnabar snuff or fragrance box. The piece could be used for perfumes, snuff, or purely decorative. The intricate hand-carved detailing and color make this a very speci...
Resin, Wood
Antique Chinese Cameo Agate Snuff Bottle
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Antique Chinese Cameo Agate Snuff Bottle, 19th century. The stone of a cloudy translucent color and caramel skin on the front side carved in high relief creating a cameo effect of a ...
Agate
$1,250
H 2.8 in W 2.37 in D 1.42 in
Antique Chinese Composite Amber Carved Beast Taotie Snuff Bottle Qing Late 19c
Located in Richmond, CA
A late Qing period Chinese snuff bottle, crafted from composite amber. This bottle is adorned with meticulously carved beast and ring taotie motifs on its shoulders, and slightly rai...
Organic Material
$716Sale Price|20% Off
H 5 in W 4.75 in D 1.75 in
Chinese Daoist Monumental Snuff Bottle with Immortals, 1930-50
Located in Lomita, CA
A large Chinese glass snuff bottle decorated with the auspicious figures of Fu, Lu, and Shou, representing prosperity, rank, and longevity—a classical theme in Chinese decorative art...
Enamel
$1,450
H 2.8 in W 2.05 in D 1.09 in
Fine Antique Chinese Ruby Red Overlay Glass Floral Snuff Bottle, Late Qing 19c
Located in Richmond, CA
Fine antique Chinese snuff bottle finely carved in transparent ruby-red overlay glass over a clear bubble-suffused "show flakes" ground, decorated throughout with flowering branches,...
Jade
Chinese Interior-Painted Glass Snuff Bottle, Signed, 19th Century
Located in Norton, MA
Chinese Interior-Painted Glass Snuff Bottle, signed, 19th Century, very well painted inside of glass depicting landscaping on both sides in colors.
Glass
$270Sale Price|20% Off
H 3.5 in W 1.5 in D 0.94 in
Chinese Export Snuff Bottle in Overlay Cameo Glass Finely Carved, circa 1920s
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very good Chinese cameo or overlay glass snuff bottle, which we date to circa 1920s. These overlay glass cameo snuff bottles are very decorative and sought after, partic...
Glass
Chinese Plum Blossom Snuff Bottle, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
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-dynast...
Ceramic, Porcelain
$1,150
H 2.17 in W 2.17 in D 1.15 in
Antique Chinese Carved Ruby Red Glass Overlay Clear Horses Snuff Bottle Qing 19c
Located in Richmond, CA
Antique late Qing Dynasty ruby red glass overlay clear ground snuff bottle, hand carved with a horse in a treed meadow scene to each side, carved elephant head and ring taoties to s...
Jade
$950
H 1.82 in W 0.95 in D 0.56 in
Antique Chinese Inside Painted Mini Snuff Bottle Shanshui Late 19-20c
Located in Richmond, CA
An antique Chinese inside painted mini glass snuff bottle ( IPSB ), both sides delicately hand painted with shanshui scene circa: 1900, Late Qing to ROC period, late 19-20c
Cut Glass
ANTIQUE CHINESE AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE 19th Century
Located in Norton, MA
ANTIQUE CHINESE AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE 19th Century
Agate
$1,250
H 3 in W 2 in D 1 in
Antique Chinese Inside-Painted Red Overlay Glass Snuff Bottle, Yangshuo, c.1920
Located in Richmond, CA
A fine antique Chinese inside-painted glass snuff bottle dating to 1920, during the Republic period, combining finely executed interior painting with carved red overlay glass decora...
Glass
$1,550
H 2.68 in W 1.66 in D 0.87 in
Antique Ruby Red Glass Overlay Snuff Bottle Fisherman Wood Gatherer Qing c.1900
Located in Richmond, CA
Antique Late Qing to Republic period ruby red glass overlay snuff bottle on snow storm ground, depicting a landscape scene with a wood gatherer figure to one side, and a fisherman fi...
Glass
Petite Chinese Agate Snuff Bottle, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
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-dynast...
Agate
$272Sale Price|20% Off
H 3.82 in W 2.17 in D 1.19 in
Chinese Inside-painted Glass Snuff bottle with Silver Metal, Early 20th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Chinese Inside-painted Glass Snuff bottle with Silver Metal, Early 20th Century Description: The scene depicted is a version of the famous classical Chinese painting "Along the Ri...
Metal
An Enameled Molded Porcelain Snuff Bottle, Qianlong Mark 1795~
Located in Norton, MA
An Enameled Molded Porcelain Snuff Bottle. Imperial, Jingdezhen kilns, Qianlong four-character mark in iron red.
Porcelain
$2,450
H 2.65 in W 1.43 in D 0.75 in
Antique Chinese Carved Smoky Agate Immortals Snuff Bottle, Qing 19C
Located in Richmond, CA
Fine antique Chinese smoky agate snuff bottle of compressed rectangular form, finely carved in low relief on both principal faces with figural scenes of immortals. One side depicts ...
Agate
$35,000
H 2.96 in W 1.97 in D 0.99 in
Antique 16k Gold Chinese Qianlong Cloisonne Enamel Snuff Bottle Mark & Period
Located in Portland, OR
A fine & rare antique Imperial Chinese Qing dynasty solid gold & cloisonne enamel snuff bottle, Qianlong mark & period, 1736-1795, tests as 16k gold. It is rare to find a cloisonné e...
Gold, Enamel
$1,550
H 2.45 in W 1.86 in D 1.11 in
Antique Chinese Shadow Agate Cameo Relief Carved Snuff Bottle Scholar Qing 19c
Located in Richmond, CA
A Chinese late Qing dynasty shadow agate snuff bottle, exquisitely carved to depict a scene of contemplative serenity. It features a scholar, thoughtfully seated on a rock, positione...
Agate
$950
H 2.21 in W 1.97 in D 1.03 in
Chinese Cinnabar Red Glass Overlay Snuff Bottle Mandarin Duck Lotus Jade 20c ROC
Located in Richmond, CA
Experience the allure of this Republic period snuff bottle, a vibrant piece that embodies the rich artistic tradition of the time. Crafted with a deep red glass overlay, well imitati...
Milk Glass
$248
H 3.5 in W 2 in D 1.25 in
Chinese Double Gourd Repoussé Snuff Bottle with Qing Dynasty Jade Buttons
Located in Chicago, IL
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-dynast...
Jade, Metal, Copper
$1,950
H 2.8 in W 1.58 in D 0.79 in
Antique Chinese Porcelain Fencai Iron Red Dragon Clouds Snuff Bottle Qing 19c
Located in Richmond, CA
This fine Chinese porcelain snuff bottle is a beautiful example of fencai, or "famille rose," decoration, known for its soft and intricate color palette. The bottle is crafted in a c...
Porcelain
Chinese Calligraphy Brush, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Along with paper, ink, and inkstone, the brush was part of the four treasures found in a scholar’s studio. Arguably the most important tool, the brush served as a direct link to the ...
Wood
Chinese Red Glass Snuff Bottle
Located in Chicago, IL
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-dynast...
Glass
The last imperial dynasty from 1644 to 1912 was a time of change in China, beginning with the invasion by Manchurian forces that ended the Ming dynasty and established the Shunzhi Emperor. The expansion of exportation and trade that had bolstered the arts during the Ming era continued, as Qing dynasty furniture involved the same attention to craftsmanship with expert construction techniques in hardwood pieces that were assembled with mortise and tenon joints rather than nails or glue. Together, these eras comprise a golden age of Chinese furniture design.
Ming-style furniture is simple and elegant with clean lines. Chairs of the period and other Ming furniture made an impression on Scandinavian modernist Hans Wegner and his streamlined seating, for example. Whereas Qing-style furniture is elaborate, with an increasing influence from the West leading to lavish carving inspired by the European Baroque and Rococo styles. And while many of the forms that define examples of the latter are common within classical Chinese furniture, such as curving and folding chairs as well as large screens, Qing designs are laden with ornamentation. Frequently, the carved motifs and inlaid designs in mother-of-pearl were auspicious, such as peonies for wealth or dragons for luck. Bats were symbols of happiness in the design of Qing furniture, with one of the characters in the word for bat, bianfu, being a homophone for fu, or “fortune.”
While several types of wood were used in the construction of Qing beds, tables, storage pieces and seating, today’s collectors know that the most prized were the rare rosewoods zitan and huanghuali. They were both sourced from Hainan, China’s largest island, and are marked by a rich luster that occurs naturally, without the application of lacquer or other decorative materials. Many of the most popular woods were imported from southeast Asia, adding to their value. Red sandalwood was also sought after for its durability and connection with Chinese medicine, with some chairs being made for health benefits.
Find a collection of antique Qing tea tables, stools, benches, decorative objects and more furniture on 1stDibs.