The town of Suzhou, famous for its gardens and canals, was also one of the main cultural centers in China, attracting many painters, calligraphers, poets, musicians and other talented individuals. Their pursuits and interests form the main subject matter of the group of acclaimed snuff bottles intricately carved from agate and jade in a style unique to the workshop associated with Zhiting, a famous jade carver from the area. For a discussion on the School of Zhiting, see Moss, Graham, Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles, Vol. 2, Quartz, no. 366.