Chinese Snuff Bottle

We've all heard about the snuff bottle (especially the British sort) but the more elusive Chinese snuff bottle is not as well known. In Chinese history these bottles are considered unique because of their curious, expensive and artistic nature.

The bottles were designed to carry snuff, a type of smokeless tobacco, which became popular during the Qing Dynasty. The smokeless tobacco was often used by middle and upper class gentlemen in the 19th century. They thought it was a preventative against any dyspepsia or colds. Interestingly enough, offering a guest a pinch of snuff while in your home was also seen as an act of friendship. The host would be accepting the guest into their home as a friend and as a fellow gentleman.

Due to the fact that these snuff bottles were used by upper class gentleman, they were designed in a very specific and expensive way. Unusual materials were used to create a Chinese snuff bottle. A few of the materials used were glass, porcelain, coral and even precious stones. The more elaborate the material, the more pleased the owners were.

When a Chinese snuff bottle was made from precious stones, these bottles bottles were carved with certain textures to accentuate the natural beauty of the precious stones. If the bottle was made from either glass or porcelain then they were painted on. The paintings were generally done in a traditional Chinese watercolor style.

In modern times, however, the art and created of a Chinese Snuff Bottle has changed dramatically. While the shape and the style of the snuff bottles are still the same, they are usually made of glass. As the Chinese craftsman have become more imaginative they have also started using a technique called "inside reverse painting". This technique has only been mastered by a few people in the world and is extremely pain-stacking.

The artist will put a small brush through the neck of the bottle to paint it from the inside out. The paints used are a basic Chinese water color but mixed with acid. The acid is used to help the watercolors adhere to the glass bottles. The acid also helps the colors from fading. This means that when you purchase a bottle for snuff that you're getting a life-time product that will retain it's beauty.

A Chinese snuff bottle is an exceptional piece of work of art and is a wonderful addition to any collection of oriental art.

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