Exquisite snuff bottle art

 

 

 Carved Amber Dragon Snuff Bottle

China, late 20th century

 

 

Sho’ nuff snuff stuff   –  the Art of Snuff

 

Made from powdered tobacco mixed with aromatic spices and herbs, snuff was introduced into China from Japan in the 17th Century. The inhalant had medicinal qualities and was initially transported in cylindrical bottles. As its popularity increased, so did the aesthetic of the vessels that it was carried in. There are references of medicinal “snuff” in the Indian traditional medical classic, Charaka Samhita, dating back to the 2nd Century AD.
Coveted by nobility and used by royalty, it was a symbol of social status in both the East and in Europe, hence the fine craftsmanship and quality of many snuff bottles and boxes, which were often exchanged as gifts on special occasions. Precious materials like amber, lapis lazuli, jade, amethyst and fine porcelains were utilized and despite being compact, with a maximum size of around 3 inches, detailed landscapes and scenes were a common decorative feature.

 

Chinese Inside painted glass snuff bottle with ladies in a garden

Chinese Inside painted glass snuff bottle with a gathering of females

 

The refinement of the miniature art eventually included interior painting where the bottles were painted from the inside, with little compromise on the detail and were quite often represented with traditional good luck symbols, especially in the East. As its use became more public, a snuff etiquette ensued, like refining its use to the motion of snuffing with only one hand. The more elegant the manner in which snuff was stored and taken, the higher the social status of the snuffer. It was considered daintier and more elegant and less offensive to neighbors than inhaling smoke from a pipe. I’m convinced the pungent odors of the streets, assailing the nostrils, in those times, were an added incentive for the elites to snort some fragrances from the stylish bottle. During the Qing Dynasty, smoking tobacco was illegal, but snuff was allowed due to its medicinal properties. The snuff bottle was favoured due to its mobility over a snuff box and because it was easily sealed.

 

 

Snuff bottle, blue glass inlaid with coloured stones and pearl, China, 1736-1795.

Snuff bottle, blue glass inlaid with coloured stones and pearl

China, 1736-1795.

 

The Kangxi Emperor ( 1662 – 1722) had a fondness for snuff and as a devoted patron of the arts, established a series of workshops in Beijing to manufacture small, high-quality objects for court use, including snuff bottles. The repertoire of materials, bottle shapes and motifs dramatically expanded under his imperial patronage. White cranes, cicadas, hares, dragons, peaches, bats and sages are some of the prestigious symbols that were presented in meticulous detail.

During the mid-nineteenth century in China, snuff bottles had become mandatory items of apparel for Chinese gentlemen and those who aspired to status. During the reign of the Qianlong Emperor (1736 – 1795) (who admired the artfulness of these exquisite receptacles}, the production of the snuff bottles was further supported by the artists of the Qianlong court, which lifted their aesthetic to even higher levels. As an accessory, the snuff bottle held sway for around 300 years, then drifted into obscurity and was replaced by the introduction of cigarettes and wrist watches as items of style.

 

 

Porcelain Snuff bottle with figures in a landscape from Asian Art Museum Online Collection

Porcelain Snuff bottle with figures in landscape

Asian Art Museum Online Collection

 

 

Carved snuff bottle with relief figures

Carved Chinese snuff bottle with relief figures walking in a forest

 

 

19th Century-Chinese Agate Snuff Bottle with boys riding an elephant

Agate Snuff Bottle with overlay of boys riding on an elephant

19th Century, China

 

 

Ceramic snuff bottle with relief dragon

Ceramic snuff bottle with flying dragon motif in relief

 

 

carved Chinese shadow agate snuff bottle, scholar in treed landscape

Carved Chinese shadow agate snuff bottle, scholar reading in a garden

 

 

Inlaid-Art-Glass-Snuff-Bottle with female musician performing

Art Glass Snuff Bottle with pearl and coral inlays, female musician performing

 

 

Amber 'double gourds' snuff bottle-Qing dynasty, Qianlong

Amber ‘double gourds’ snuff bottle-Qing dynasty, Qianlong

 

 

Inside painted Chinese snuff bottle depicting scenes of a General on a Horse and on the reverse a Chinese soothsayer

Seeanfano etsy

 

 

Chinese Glass Snuff bottle in shape of a Foe Dog Seeanfano-etsy

Chinese Glass Snuff bottle in shape of a Foo Dog

Seeanfano-etsy

 

Deer and sacred fruit tree snuff bottle

Deer and sacred fruit tree porcelain snuff bottle

 

Crystalline stone snuff bottle

Crystalline stone snuff bottle

Chineseplus – Etsy

 

 

Amethyst snuff bottle,-Chinese on wooden stand

Amethyst snuff bottle on wooden stand

China

 

 

Elephant-and-Empress snuff bottle

‘Elephant and Empress’ carved snuff bottle

 

 

Chinese lacquered cinnabar snuff bottle depicting flying Guan Yin to each side. Holds Qianlong (1736-1795)

Chinese lacquered cinnabar snuff bottle depicting flying Guan Yin to each side.

Qianlong (1736-1795)

 

 

An ivory carved snuff bottle, 1820-1880.

An ivory relief carved snuff bottle, boat on lotus lake, horse, pagoda and figures

1820-1880.

 

 

Antique Old Chinese Peking Glass Carved Snuff Bottle ~ monkey ridding on horse

Antique Chinese Peking Glass Carved Snuff Bottle ~ monkey ridding on horse

 

 

Porcelain snuff bottle with lake willows,-1820-1860

Porcelain snuff bottle with lake willows

1820-1860

 

 

Attractive overlay Snuff Bottle with Vanquisher of Ghosts Zhong Kui

Overlay Snuff Bottle with Zhong Kui (Vanquisher of Ghosts)

 

 

French-snuff-bottle with rural scene

French snuff bottle with rural scene

 

 Rabbit and Radish Carved Peking Overlay Glass Snuff Bottle.

 Rabbit & Radish carved Peking Overlay Glass Snuff Bottle.

 

 

carved and molded porcelain 'Landscape' snuff bottle, signed Chen Guozhi, Qing dynasty, 19th century

Carved and molded porcelain ‘Landscape’ snuff bottle, signed Chen Guozhi

Qing dynasty, 19th century

 

 

Carved coral snuff bottle Coral melon-shaped children Bandai snuff bottles Republic Period Republic of China photo courtesy Bonhams

Carved coral melon shape snuff bottle

Republic Period Republic of China photo courtesy Bonhams

 

Carved ivory-Snuff Bottle with relief figures

Carved ivory Snuff Bottle with relief figures

 

 

China, Snuff Bottle, coral-turquoise, c. 19th century

Chinese Snuff Bottle, coral stopper, turquoise body

c. 19th century

 

 

Relief Carved Opal Snuff Bottle

Relief Carved Opal Snuff Bottle with pagoda and female figure

 

 

China-Botella-Cloisonné-snuff

Chinese botanical Cloisonné snuff bottle

 

 

Chinese-Bone & Coral Snuff Bottle sgae with boy

Chinese Bone & Coral inlay snuff bottle

 

 

Chinese Carved Amber Snuff Bottle

Carved Amber Snuff Bottle

 

Carved Jadeite Snuff Bottle with carp

Carved Jadeite Snuff Bottle

 

Chinese-carved green malachite gourd formed snuff bottle

Carved green malachite gourd form snuff bottle

 

Chinese Carved Peking Glass Snuff Bottle, Goldfish, Lotus, Frogs

Chinese Carved glass snuff bottle, Goldfish, Lotus, Frogs

 

Imperial Chinese overlay Peking Glass Snuff bottle,Qianlong period

Imperial Chinese overlay Peking Glass snuff bottle

Qianlong period

 

 

Chinese Inside Painted Snuff Bottle with roaming cat

Chinese Inside Painted Snuff Bottle with roaming cat

 

 

Chinese Lac Burgaute Snuff Bottle Qing Dynasty with seated figure

Chinese Lac Burgaute Snuff Bottle

Qing Dynasty

 

 

Chinese-Lapis-lazuli-snuff Bottle

Lapis lazuli snuff Bottle, China

 

 

Chinese mother-of-pearl snuff bottle Late 19th century. Mother-of-pearl with floral designs

Chinese mother-of-pearl snuff bottle Late 19th century with floral motif

 

 

Old Porcelain Snuff Bottle with Bird and Flower

Old Porcelain Snuff Bottle with Bird and Flower

 

 

Chinese Peking Glass Snuff Bottle---Butterfly

Chinese Peking Glass butterflies snuff bottle

 

 

Chinese Peking Glass Snuff Bottle--Having overlay depicting dragon with body that wraps around vessel,

Chinese Peking Glass Snuff Bottle–with dragon overlays

 

 

Chinese Porcelain Snuff Bottle and Stopper,in pink and white

Chinese Porcelain Snuff Bottle with white crane and persimmon overlay

 

 

 

Chinese snuff bottle, Qing Dynasty; 1796-1850; white porcelain with moulded decoration. V & A

Chinese snuff bottle,  white porcelain with molded figures decoration.

Qing Dynasty; 1796-1850 — V & A

 

Porcelain snuff bottle, in the- form of a lioness;-painted,-Qing Dynasty, China;-1796-1860

Hand painted porcelain snuff bottle, in the form of a lioness

Qing Dynasty, China; 1796-1860

 

 

Turquoise-blue overlay ruby-red glass 'flowering orchids' snuff bottle--Yangzhou, Qing dynasty, 19th century

Turquoise-blue overlay ruby-red glass ‘flowering orchids’ snuff bottle

Yangzhou, Qing dynasty, 19th century

 

 

Chinese-blue snuff-bottle - man rowing boat on lake

Chinese blue snuff bottle

 

 

cloisonné enamel scent bottle Meiji period (late 19th century), signed Kyoto Namikawa (workshop of Namikawa Yasuyuki; 1845-1927)

Cloisonné phoenix enamel scent bottle

Meiji period (late 19th century), signed Kyoto Namikawa (workshop of Namikawa Yasuyuki; 1845-1927)

 

 

 

Carved Coral snuff bottle with horse motif

Carved Coral snuff bottle with horse motif

 

 

Chinese-Red Coral Damo Bodhidharma Dharma Buddha snuff bottle

Chinese Red Coral Damo Bodhidharma Buddha snuff bottle

 

 

Carved overlay dragon snuff bottle in blue and white

Carved overlay dragon snuff bottle

 

 

Snuff Bottle (Biyanhu) with Landscape China, early 20th century. Carved ivory with polychrome tinted decoration, carved bone stopper.LACMA

Snuff Bottle (Biyanhu) with Landscape  Carved ivory with polychrome tinted decoration, carved bone stopper.

China, early 20th century — LACMA

 

 

embellished-glass-snuff-bottle--qing-dynasty,-1780-1900-Tsuda-family,-kyoto,-japan,-1890-1941

Embellished glass snuff bottle-Qing Dynasty, 1780-1900

Tsuda family, Kyoto, Japan, 1890-1941

 

 

Victorian Satin Perfume Scent Bottle with Japanese style gilt decoration

Victorian Satin Scent Bottle with Japanese style gilt decoration

 

 

fine-red-painted-wood-snuff-bottle-with-stone-inlays

Red painted wood snuff bottle with stone figure inlays

 

 

Chinese porcelain snuff bottle with fish design

Chinese porcelain snuff bottle with fish motif

 

 

White dragon snuff bottle with orange stopper

White dragon relief snuff bottle

 

Hare motif carved wood snuff bottle

Hare motif wooden snuff bottle

 

 

Ivory-'buddhist-lions'-snuff-bottle--imperial-master,-japan,-late-19th

Ivory-‘buddhist lions’ snuff bottle–Imperial Master

Japan, late 19th century

 

 

Ivory carved-Japanese snuff bottle,-Kyoto,-1920-1950

Ivory carved Japanese snuff bottle

Kyoto, 1920-1950

 

Jadeite floral motif Snuff-Bottle

Jadeite lotus motif Snuff Bottle

 

 

Jade snuff bottle with birds, flowers and leaves

Carved jade snuff bottle with birds, flowers and leaves

 

 

Kuan Yin snuff bottle, white overlay on crimson red

Kuan Yin snuff bottle, white overlay on crimson red

 

 

Kung Fu Warrior porcelain snuff-bottle

Kung Fu Warrior porcelain snuff-bottle

 

 

Lac Burgauté cicada snuff bottle Japan, late 19th---early 20th-century

Lac Burgauté cicada snuff bottle

Japan, late 19th—early 20th century

 

Snuff bottle-late Qing dynasty,-1800-1911

 

Snuff bottle – late Qing dynasty, 1800-1911

 

 

Carved Lapis-lasuli-Snuff-bottle--China

Carved playful children Lapis lasuli Snuff bottle

China

 

 

Late-Qing--Period-Four-Pcs-of-Antique-Glazed-Porcelain-Snuff-Bottle

Qing Glazed Porcelain Snuff Bottle

 

 

Moulded famille-rose porcelain 'precious objects' snuff bottle seal mark and period of qianlong

Moulded famille-rose porcelain ‘precious objects’ snuff bottle seal mark and period of Qianlong

 

 

Beijing-Hand Painted Glass Snuff Bottle with dragon motif

Hand Painted Glass Snuff Bottle with overlay dragon motif

 

 

Opal-black snuff bottle

Black opal snuff bottle with fish motif

 

Green Dragonfly' glass Snuff Bottle

Green Dragonfly’ glass Snuff Bottle

 

 

Light blue overlay 'Katydid' Snuff Bottle

Light blue overlay ‘Katydid’ Snuff Bottle

 

 

Qing-dynasty-Coral Buddha head snuff bottle

 Red oral Buddha head snuff bottle

Qing dynasty

 

 

Carved red-coral dragon snuff bottle

Carved red-coral animated dragon snuff bottle ( Biyanhu )

 

 

Sandwiched' blue and biotite and milky-white glass 'mallow' snuff bottle qing dynasty, mid-18th -19th century

Sandwiched’ blue, biotite and milky-white glass ‘mallow’ snuff bottle

Qing dynasty, mid 18th -19th century

 

 

Deep Red Peking Glass Carved Snuff Bottle - Fish & Lotus

Red Peking Glass Carved Snuff Bottle – Fish & Lotus

 

 

Snuff Bottle (Biyanhu) with Lao Zu riding a Water Buffalo, China, Late Qing dynasty, about 1800-1911

Ceramic snuff bottle (Biyanhu) with Lao Zu riding a Water Buffalo

China, Late Qing dynasty, about 1800-1911

 

Snuff Bottle (Biyanhu) with Maidens in a Landscape, China, late Qing dynasty, about 1800-1911,

Snuff Bottle (Biyanhu) with Maidens in a Landscape with pines

China, late Qing dynasty, about 1800-1911,

 

Snuff Bottle (Biyanhu) with Landscape China, Chinese, late Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, 1874-1908

Porcelain Snuff Bottle with Landscape

Chinese, late Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, 1874-1908

 

 

Snuff Bottle (Biyanhu) with Two Boys, China, Late Qing dynasty, about 1800-1911, Molded soft-paste porcelain with overglaze enamel and gilt decoration

Snuff Bottle (Biyanhu) with Two Boys, Molded soft-paste porcelain with overglaze enamel and gilt decoration

China, Late Qing dynasty, about 1800-1911,

 

Snuff-Bottle-with-pearl inlays

Snuff Bottle with pearl inlays

 

 

Ivory Snuff Bottle, China, late 19th century, carved as a melon borne on leafy tendril, with a bee to the surface,

Ivory Snuff Bottle, carved as a melon borne on leafy tendril, with a bee to the surface

China, late 19th century

 

 

Ivory Snuff Bottle,-China,-20th-century,-carved butterflies and insects in relief

Ivory Snuff Bottle,carved butterflies and insects in relief

China, 20th century

 

White Overlay Blue Peking Glass 'Crane' Snuff Bottle

White Overlay Blue Peking Glass ‘Crane’ Snuff Bottle

 

 

Chinese jade snuff bottle

Abstract jade snuff bottle

 

 

 

8 Comments

  1. amarilio melo
    Posted July 27, 2018 at 11:01 am | Permalink

    excelentes produtos

  2. bujar
    Posted March 26, 2020 at 8:50 pm | Permalink

    we intereset for cfr
    aft botille

  3. Sharonrose
    Posted November 18, 2020 at 7:10 am | Permalink

    I so enjoyed looking at these beautiful bottles and learned a great deal. My mother collected item’s from the orient as did my grandmother. I was left two items, a Guardian Lion stamp, and a Cloisonne bottle. If I sent a picture, could you tell me anything about it?

  4. Robbie Hood
    Posted November 18, 2020 at 9:47 am | Permalink

    yes forward a photo

  5. elaine
    Posted October 31, 2021 at 9:34 pm | Permalink

    Oh what a joy this ihas been .to SEE and appreciate.these treasures_ each and every one, is a requiem for the soul.
    Nothing in China’s vast catalog of beautiful objects reveals the richness of its culture , more than these tiney jewels….

  6. Angela A Cobb-Norris
    Posted December 7, 2021 at 5:26 am | Permalink

    BEAUTIFUL WORK

  7. Lew Meekins
    Posted February 24, 2023 at 3:10 am | Permalink

    Beautiful bottles. Would like to own a few.

  8. Posted February 24, 2023 at 3:11 am | Permalink

    Beautiful bottles would like to own a view

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