Vintage Hand-Carved Chinese Snuff Bottle — Basket of Flowers

A beautiful vintage Chinese snuff bottle in hand-carved high-relief stone — a refined and collectible example of the miniature carving tradition, acquired from a distinguished private estate. The bottle depicts a classic Basket of Flowers motif in finely detailed relief, carved from a natural heavy stone of apparent jasper or serpentine variety, with a lovely earthy, mottled texture that is cold and substantial to the touch. Circa 1950s–1970s, labeled Made in Hong Kong on the base, and presented complete with its original matching stone stopper and intact snuff spoon — a rare find in this state of completeness. Approximately 2.5 inches tall. This is a well-hollowed bottle, crafted to be fully functional as well as decorative — a distinction that speaks directly to the quality of its making. An ideal entry point for the Asian art collector, or a singular addition to a cabinet of vintage curiosities.

About Chinese Snuff Bottles

The Chinese snuff bottle is one of the great art forms of the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912), born from the imperial court’s adoption of powdered tobacco and elevated over two centuries into an object of extraordinary artistic ambition. What began as a practical vessel became a canvas for the finest miniature artistry China could produce — carved in jade, rock crystal, agate, amber, coral, porcelain, and stone; painted on the interior of glass with hair-fine brushes; fashioned in materials of the rarest beauty and ingenuity.

Stone-carved snuff bottles are among the most enduring and collectible of the form. The carver works against the natural grain and color of the material, coaxing the motif from the stone with tools of extraordinary delicacy. The basket of flowers motif is a classic of Chinese decorative art, symbolizing abundance, beauty, and the harmony of the natural world — rendered here in confident, well-defined high relief that rewards close examination. Vintage Hong Kong-produced examples from the mid-20th century represent the continuation of this tradition by skilled craftsmen working in the post-imperial period, and complete examples with original stoppers and spoons are increasingly difficult to find intact.

Details

• Origin: China / Hong Kong (labeled Made in Hong Kong on base)
• Era: Circa 1950s–1970s
• Material: Natural heavy stone — apparent jasper or serpentine variety
• Motif: Basket of flowers (high-relief carving)
• Height: Approximately 2.5 inches
• Includes: Original matching stone stopper and intact snuff spoon
• Provenance: Private estate acquisition

Condition

Excellent vintage condition. No visible chips or cracks to the high-relief carving. Stone remains cold and substantial to the touch. Please review all high-resolution photos carefully as they form part of the condition description.

Comparable Market Value

$155 — based on current auction and dealer pricing for complete vintage Chinese hand-carved stone snuff bottles with original stopper and spoon of comparable quality and period.