A quartz crystal, with black tourmaline needles, plain ladies snuff bottle with an aquamarine stopper.

B7

Quartz, crystal with black tourmaline needles evenly interspersed throughout the material, of flattened rectangular form sitting on a raised oval foot, of small size.

Chinese, 1750-1860
Stopper: aquamarine
Provenance: Sydney Moss Ltd, London, 1976
Height: 3.8cm

'Hair crystal' was popular amongst snuff takers in China. The tourmaline needles provide an exciting abstract design, and the material's translucency makes it easy to see the remaining quantity of snuff. The combination of these factors provides an exciting vessel to use and show off.