"These exquisite miniatures, which measure between one and a half and three inches high, not only illustrate the technical virtuosity of Qing dynasty craftsmen but also provide a window on life and culture in late imperial China.

For example, early 18th-century imperial glass and painted enamel bottles show the influence of the Jesuits at court and the imperial fascination with Western technical advances. Carved examples in different mediums such as jade and glass illustrate the relationships between craftsmen working at the imperial workshops, and the favored motifs across materials. Later 19th-century versions reveal how earlier imperial tastes became popular with the general public while confirming the continuing status of snuff use in Qing society".

-From Christies.