The production of snuff bottles arose in the early Qing period, and developed into one of the most significant aspects of Chinese decorative arts as the habit of taking snuff grew. This rectangular agate bottle has beautiful bands of white and brown encircling the mid-section. The quartz family of stones, which includes agate, was frequently used by artisans. The wide spectrum of colours of these stones gave the artisans much room to exercise their skill and imagination.
