Qing Tobacco Accessories
QING STYLE
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.
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Style: Qing
Chinese Bamboo Opium Pipe with Red Clay Bowl
Located in Chicago, IL
This long bamboo pipe dates to the late 19th century and was originally used for smoking opium. Unlike a tobacco pipe, the opium pipe was designed especially to allow resinous opium ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Brass
Chinese Opium Scraper with Hardwood Handle, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
This handheld tool is a 19th-century opium scraper, fitted with a curved, spoon-like blade designed to remove debris from the inner walls of a pipe bowl. The metal end is secured to ...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Brass
Pair of Chinese Bronze Opium Scrapers, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
These petite bronze tools date to the late 19th century and were originally among the many accessories that comprised an opium smoking kit. Both tools are ...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Chinese Bronze Opium Pallet, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This elegant bronze tool dates to the late 19th century and was originally one of many accessories that comprised an opium smoking kit. The shovel-like too...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Chinese Calligraphy Opium Pipe Bowl, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This unusual object is an early 20th century opium pipe bowl, sculpted of pale red-orange clay to a squat, six-sided form and fitted with a white brass collar. The top of the pipe bo...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Brass
Antique Chinese Peking Red Overlay Snowflake Glass Snuff Bottle
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Antique Chinese Peking Red Overlay Snowflake Glass Snuff Bottle, of flattened ovoid shape with sloping shoulders, round neck, thin and flat mouth rim, raised oval foot and countersun...
Category
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Glass
Antique Chinese Natural Double Gourd Snuff Bottle
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Antique Chinese Natural Double Gourd Snuff Bottle, Qing Dynasty. The long natural gourd is referred to as a double gourd having a cinched waist cent...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Organic Material
Antique Chinese Natural Gourd Snuff Bottle
Located in Point Richmond, CA
A Natural Gourd Snuff Bottle, Qing Dynasty. A dried globular knobby gourd that is hollowed, lacquered and buffed to serve as a snuff bottle with an...
Category
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Organic Material
Antique Chinese Blue & White Porcelain Dragon Snuff Bottle
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Chinese porcelain dragon snuff bottle, cylindrical pillar form with high shoulder, short neck, everted lip and concentric grooved base painted in underglaze cobalt blue of a single f...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Chinese Cinnabar-red Overlay White Glass Snuff Bottle
Located in Point Richmond, CA
A Cinnabar-red Overlay White Glass Snuff Bottle, 19th century. The flat oval white glass bottle has a thinn overlay of opaque dense red glass resembling cinnabar lacquer and deeply carved away in a cinnabar style to reveal a scholar’s studio with a footed vase with flower arrangement, teapot with a bird on top and a low table on one side, the other with a scene of a fish drum(token symbol of the immortal Zhang Guo Lao...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Glass
Antique Chinese Black-and-White Jade Pebble Snuff Bottle
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Chinese Black-and-White Jade Pebble Snuff Bottle, nephrite carved in the overall shape of a white peach of longevity with a black bat of happiness resting...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Jade
Antique Chinese Burl Wood Snuff Bottle
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Antique Chinese burl wood snuff bottle with a large auspicious three legged toad on the front in high relief, overall oval shape with oval foot rim and countersunk flat base, adequat...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Burl
Tibetan Silver Snuff Bottle, circa 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This early 20th century Tibetan snuff bottle is delightfully ornate, crafted with silver metalwork and encrusted with colorful beads. The small bo...
Category
20th Century Tibetan Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Silver
Chinese Drum-Form Opium Measure, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This unusual, barrel-form object was originally one of the many accessories that comprised an opium smoker's kit. Formed of brass with a copper lining, the small tool is known by col...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Brass, Copper
Famille Verte Porcelain Opium Lamp, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
By the 18th century, opium use had become as central to Chinese social life as taking tea or smoking tobacco, fostering a subculture rich with its own customs, traditions, and exquis...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Brass
Chinese Coral & Malachite Inlaid Brass Snuff Bottle, c. 1850
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...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Coral, Malachite, Brass
Petite Chinese Pale 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...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Agate
Pair of Opium Harvesting Tools, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A pair of early 20th-century tools used for harvesting opium latex from poppy flowers. Formed of bamboo handles and iron blades, the rustic tools were used to scratch the surface of ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Metal
Chinese Lacquered Opium Pipe Bowl Stand, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This tabletop display stand was once used to elevate an opium smoker's collection of pipe bowls, a removable element of the opium pipe often made of fine materials such as jade, yixi...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Wood, Mirror
Chinese Blue and White 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...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Porcelain
Chinese Double Gourd Repoussé Snuff Bottle with Jade Buttons, c. 1850
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...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Jade, Metal, Copper
Late 19th Century Chinese Mother of Pearl Snuff Bottles
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...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Bone, Mother-of-Pearl
Chinese Fossil Stone 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-dynasty society, the practice provided an opportunity to display one's refined aesthetic through collectible snuff bottles.
This petite snuff bottle is carved from a conglomerate stone embedded with small fossils...
Category
20th Century Chinese Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Stone
Chinese Carved Stone 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...
Category
20th Century Chinese Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Stone
White Agate Chinese 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...
Category
20th Century Chinese Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Agate
Chinese Carved Stone 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...
Category
20th Century Chinese Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Stone
Chinese Fu Dog Stone 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...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Stone
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...
Category
20th Century Chinese Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Glass
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...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Other
Antique Chinese Cameo Agate Snuff Bottle
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Antique Chinese Cameo Agate Snuff Bottle, rounded square from with raised foot rim and round neck, concave mouth rim, narrow mouth, well hollowed depicting a horse, bee and a monkey....
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Agate
Chinese Shan Shui Relief Snuff Bottle, c. 1940s
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...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Resin
Antique Chinese Black “Sea Pine” Snuff Bottle
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Antique Chinese Black “sea pine” snuff bottle of a rocky outcropping with a fish and crayfish in relief, 4 inset green shell eyes, hollowed interior. Jadeite stopper with brass colla...
Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Organic Material
Set of Three Opium Harvesting Tools, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
A set of three 19th-century tools used for harvesting opium latex from poppy flowers. Formed of bamboo handles and iron blades, the rustic tools were used to scratch the surface of a...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Iron
Chinese Spittoon Dross Box with Buddhist Symbols, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
By the 18th century, opium use had become as central to Chinese social life as taking tea or smoking tobacco, fostering a subculture rich with its own customs, traditions, and exquis...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Brass, Copper
Chinese Eighteen Luohan Walnut Shell 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...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Plastic, Walnut
Antique Chinese Porcelain Pillar Blue & White Dragon Snuff Bottle
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Chinese porcelain dragon snuff bottle, unusual cylindrical pillar form with no neck, unglazed top and bottom concentric grooved base, narrow aperture, painted in under glaze cobalt b...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Qing Tobacco Accessories
Materials
Porcelain
Qing tobacco accessories for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Qing tobacco accessories for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage tobacco accessories created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, asian art and furniture, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with stone, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Qing tobacco accessories made in a specific country, there are Asia, East Asia, and China pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for tobacco accessories differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $98 and tops out at $2,880 while the average work can sell for $184.