Minneapolis Institute of Art

Snuff bottle

China

Date

1800–1900

Medium

Rutiled crystal, jade

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

The crystal from which this snuff bottle was carved has natural imperfections reminiscent of pine needles, grass, lines of ink, or even hair. The scattered “needles, ” which are actually a mineral called rutile, remind us of the arbitrary beauty that nature is capable of creating and that artists can capture and feature in artworks such as this snuff bottle. China, Asia

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