Ivory snuff bottle (detail)

Although snuff bottles are functional, many were collected as art forms. Their small dimensions also made it possible for craftsmen to lavish skill. This is a detail from a fine ivory snuff bottle of cylindrical form.

Each of the Eight Immortals depicted here has an attribute or emblem. Such attributes assist in the identification of these figures. Lu Dongbin is depicted with a sword across his back. Li Tieguai is shown as a crippled beggar holding a gourd.

The attributes of the Eight Immortals (the fan, the sword, the gourd, the castanets, the basket of peaches, the bamboo tube, the flute, and the lotus pod) often appear in the decorative arts of the Ming and Qing periods as symbols of good fortunes.

Record details

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Online ID:	000-190-001-311-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland A.1967.449
Date:	19th century 19th century AD
Material:	Ivory
Dimensions:	82 mm H x 45 mm W x 35 mm D
What:	Snuff bottle
Subject:	Snuff bottles
Who:	Eight Taoist Immortals
Where:	China
Event:
Description:	Snuff bottle of ivory, carved in fine relief with scenes of the Eight Taoist Immortals: China, 19th century AD
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