Snuff bottle, 1750–1850, Qing dynasty (1644-1911), Qianlong period (1736–95). Glass, coral, 6.7 x 4.8cm. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle (33.7.5a-c) © Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Snuff bottle, 1750–1850, Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Glass, 9.2 x 3.8cm. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle (33.7.8) © Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Snuff bottle, 1750–1850, Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Porcelain, H.3-3/4 x W.1-5/8 in. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle (31.113.3a, b) © Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Snuff bottle, 1760–1820, Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Porcelain, enamel, jade, 8.6 x 2.5cm. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle (33.7.2a-c) © Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Snuff bottle, 1780–1850 Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong period (1736–95). Glass, coral, 7 x 6cm. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle, (31.113.4a-c) © Minneapolis Institute of Art

Snuff bottle, 1780–1850 Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong period (1736–95). Glass, gold, 7 x 6cm. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle, (36.6.10a, b) © Minneapolis Institute of Art

Snuff bottle, 1780–1850, Qing dynasty (1654-1911). Jade, rose quartz. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle (36.6.1a-c) © Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Snuff bottle, 1780–1850, Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Soapstone, coral, silver, H.3 x W.1-5/8 in. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle, (31.113.10a-c) © Minneapolis Institute of Art

Snuff bottle, 1780–1850, Qing dynasty (1654-1911). Jade, rose quartz. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle (36.6.2a-c) © Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Beneath a crescent moon, a woman sits at the bow of a fisherman’s boat in a river, playing a stringed instrument called a pipa. The scene comes from a famous Chinese narrative poem called “The Song of the Pipa Player, ” composed by the poet Bai Juyi in 816 CE. In the poem, a man encounters this pipa player and expresses the sadness he feels when he hears her play her melancholy song. The bottle’s creamy white color is reminiscent of the moonlight mentioned in the poem:

We drank with depressed heart, Seeing my friends off while the moonlight bathed in the river.

Suddenly the pipa sounds drifting to our ears from a neighboring boat, My guests forgot to leave and I knew not where we were.

Snuff bottle, 1780–1850, Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Jadeite, 8.3 x 4.6 x 3.5cm. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle, (35.9.5a-c) © Minneapolis Institute of ArtWashington 

Snuff bottle, 1780–1880, Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Porcelain, 8.6 x 4.1cm. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle (33.7.3a-c) © Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Snuff bottle, 18th-19th century, Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Beryl, H.2-1/4 x W.1-3/8 in. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle (31.113.14a-c) © Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Snuff bottle, 18th-19th century, Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Porcelain, H.2-3/8 x W.1-5/8 in. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle (31.113.2a, b) © Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Snuff bottle, 18th-19th century, Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Tourmaline. H.2-1/4 x 1-5/8 in. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle (31.113.8a-c) © Minneapolis Institute of Art

.Snuff bottle, 19th century, Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Natural crystal. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle (36.6.8a, b) © Minneapolis Institute of Art

Snuff bottle, 19th century, Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Jade. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle (36.6.4a, b) © Minneapolis Institute of Art

Snuff bottle, 1850–1925, Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Macaroni agate, glass. H.2-1/2 x W.2 in. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle (31.113.12a-c) © Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Snuff bottle, 1850–1925, Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Jade, turquoise, malachite, carnelian, lapis lazuli, 7. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle (35.9.2a-c) © Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Snuff bottle, 1850–1925, Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Porcelain, 8.9 x 2.9cm. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle (33.7.1a-c) © Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Snuff bottle, 1875–1925, Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Coral, turquoise. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle (36.6.6a-c) © Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Snuff bottle, 1850–1935, Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Malachite. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle (36.6.5) © Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Snuff bottle, 1900–35, Qing dynasty (1654-1911). Tourmaline, jade, H.2 x W.1-3/8 in. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle (31.113.9a-c) © Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Snuff bottle, 1900–35, Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Brass with silver gilt, jade, glass, aquamarine, jadeite, rose quartz, H.2 x W.1-3/8 in. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle (36.5.3a, b) © Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Snuff bottle, 1900–35, Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Brass with silver gilt, jade, glass, aquamarine, jadeite, rose quartz, H.2 x W.1-3/8 in. Gift of Mrs. Augustus L. Searle (36.5.2a, b) © Minneapolis Institute of Art.