Queen Mary (1867–1953), consort of George V (1865–1936), was known for her love of highly-wrought, tiny, precious objects, and many of the small Chinese hardstone figures in the Collection were acquired by her. Her particular loves were snuff bottles and carvings of animals. Many of these were smaller works in jadeite, in a range of colours, or in other hardstones, such as rock crystal, pink quartz, lapis lazuli and turquoise. Such objects were often given as gifts by close friends or relatives on birthdays, at Christmas, or on New Year's Day.

This tiny turquoise scent bottle and stopper was presented to the queen by members of her family at Christmas in 1928.