
Thomson Collection
Art Gallery of Ontario

Photo: Ryan Chow/The Varsity
The Art Gallery of Ontario holds one of the most distinguished public collections of Chinese snuff bottles in North America—more than 250 examples assembled by the late philanthropist Ken Thomson with the close guidance of scholars Robert and Lindsay Hall, and now on permanent view in Gallery 111 as part of the Thomson Collection. Spanning four centuries of production across an exceptional range of materials and techniques, the collection rewards sustained attention
One of the few holdings outside of China where the full arc of the form can be studied in depth, in a dedicated gallery setting, without an appointment.
Additional resources
From the collection

Imperial yellow glass with taotie masks
Chinese. Snuff Bottle, with taotie masks, 1736-1795. Glass. The Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario. © Art Gallery of Ontario AGOID.106979

Inside painted with fish
Ye Zhongsan. Snuff Bottle, with inside painting of fish, 1912. Rock crystal. The Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario. © Art Gallery of Ontario AGOID.106964.

Enamel on glass with bird and peonies
Chinese. 1736-1795. Enamel on glass. The Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario. © Art Gallery of Ontario AGOID.106892

Coral with Imperial dragon
Chinese. 1750-1820. Coral. The Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario. © Art Gallery of Ontario AGOID.2003/1344

Lavender jadeite
Chinese. 1780-1850. Jadeite. The Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario. © Art Gallery of Ontario AGOID.106948

Amber with carved depiction of Huang Chenyen on his donkey
Chinese. 1780-1850. Amber. The Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario. © Art Gallery of Ontario AGOID.106933

Red glass
Chinese. Snuff Bottle. 1736-1795. Glass. The Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario. © Art Gallery of Ontario AGOID.106983

Chalcedony with carved dragon among waves
Chinese. Snuff Bottle. 1780-1850. Chalcedony. The Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario. © Art Gallery of Ontario AGOID.106943

Molded porcelain depicting figures in a boat
Chinese. Snuff Bottle. 1796-1821. Porcelain. The Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario. © Art Gallery of Ontario AGOID.106952

Enamel on glass with quail and flowers
Chinese. Snuff Bottle. 1736–1796. Enamel on glass. The Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario. © Art Gallery of Ontario AGOID.106877

Glass with mock mask and ring handles
Chinese. Snuff Bottle. 1736-1795. Glass. The Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario. © Art Gallery of Ontario AGOID.109053

Ivory and lacquer with boating scene and Xi Wangmu
Chinese. Snuff Bottle. 1860-1940. Ivory and lacquer The Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario. © Art Gallery of Ontario AGOID.109048

Inside-painted with nine butterflies among flowers
Ma Shoaxuan. Chinese. Snuff Bottle. Glass. The Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario. © Art Gallery of Ontario AGOID.109075

Calcified nephrite with bamboo, chrysanthemum and inscription
Chinese. Snuff Bottle. Glass. The Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario. © Art Gallery of Ontario AGOID.109075

Blue jadeite
Chinese. Snuff Bottle. Blue jadeite. The Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario. © Art Gallery of Ontario AGOID.109087

