While snuff first came to China from the West, the snuff bottle is an absolute Chinese invention which combines the Chinese and western cultures. It��s said that snuff was introduced to China between the end of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the beginning of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) by Mattel Ricci. Due to its mild anesthetic properties which help people relax, it was widely appreciated by the royal family, who belonged to the Man ethnic minority. As time passed, snuff gradually took on oriental characteristics and eventually, snuff bottles emerged.

Snuff bottles continued to be in fashion for over two hundred years until the end of the Qing dynasty, and is an art form connected closely with imperial tastes. Initially only used within palace circles, snuff bottles were soon collected and used among literary and scholarly circles in Qing society, as well as the merchant classes. Incorporating the most sophisticated techniques of China's applied arts, snuff bottles are the crystallized product of generations of superb craftsmanship and artistic achievements.  
 
The craft of snuff bottle-making dates back to Ming dynasty, and came to full flourish in Qing dynasty. In terms of material and manufacturing method, snuff bottles include fabric bottles, china bottles, stone bottles, metal bottles, interior inscription bottles, and enamel bottles etc. They are small in size, versatile in shape, and well-known for their artistic merit and sophisticated workmanship. They are easy to collect and play with. Compared with chinaware of Ming and Qing dynasties, the mini snuff bottles are cute and delicate, the "Thumbelinas" of Chinese art.

Chinese snuff bottle are considered by some to be the epitome of Chinese artwork, as it involves painting, calligraphy, carving, inlaying, handicrafts, ceramics, glassware, and enamel etc. This is why Chinese snuff bottles have been well-known all over the world for years. During the Qing Dynasty, bottles were mainly produced in of Guangzhou, Beijing, Boshan (of Shandong Province), Inner-Mongolia, Liaoning Province and Tibet. Inner-Mongolia is famous for its silver snuff bottles, Liaoning for agate ones, and Tibet for metal ones.