A Short History About the Chinese Snuff Bottle
Snuff originally became extremely popular in Britain. It is for this reason that the more beautiful and revered Chinese Snuff bottle is not as well renowned as it’s simpler cousin. However, with the growing popularity of snuff bottles and a general increase in the supply, their popularity is quickly growing to new heights. A Chinese snuff bottle is a better buy because of it’s expensive, artistic and curious nature.
The reason the Chinese snuff bottle was created was to carry snuff, a sort of smokeless tobacco. This smokeless tobacco became popular in China during the Qing Dynasty. The snuff bottles were used by middle and upper class men in the 19th century. Snuff was also generally consented to be a great cure for colds and dyspepsia. It was also used as a method to greet a friend. If you offered a guest a pinch of snuff while they were in your home, it meant that you were offering them a hand of friendship. It also meant that the host was accepting that they were also a gentleman.
The fact that these snuff bottles were used by the upper class men of the time, meant that the snuff bottles were often designed in a specific way. The materials used in their construction are expensive and were a status symbol amongst the users of snuff. The most common materials were porcelain, precious stones, glass and coral. The more unique and expensive the material, the more pleased the snuff user was with his bottle. It is for this reason that now snuff bottles are so elaborately decorated.
A Chinese snuff bottle made from precious stones were carved with certain textures or pictures. This was done so it would highlight the natural beauty of the stones. If a Chinese snuff bottle was made from either porcelain or glass than it was normally painted on. The paintings were done in a traditional Chinese watercolor.
As time passed, however, the creation of the Chinese snuff bottle has changed significantly. The shape and the style has stayed the same but the materials used are very different. Most of today’s snuff bottles made are made out of glass. Chinese craftsman have also started using a technique that is called “inside reverse painting”. This technique is extremely rare and only known by a handful of people around the world. A artist will paint the inside of the bottle with a tiny brush. The watercolor paints are generally mixed with acid so that the color sticks to the inside of the glass.
After learning about the basics of the Chinese snuff bottle you can understand why it is seen as an exceptional piece of art.
About the Author
Sheila Bridge is an American importer and designer whose goal is to bring you the most beautiful, intricately designed, stunningly executed interior decorations based on Asian arts. Sheila is an expert on Japanese and Chinese Cloisonne. She also owns and operates www.mycrystalbridge.com - oriental arts importer.
Chinese Snuff Bottle With Inside Painting Bottles
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Ancient Chinese ceramics manual painting people snuff bottle $0.35 |
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Inside Painting Chinese Four Beauty Glass Bottle $0.50 |
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Nice Chinese Glass Hand-painted snuff bottle -Fr Shipping $1.04 |
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Nice Chinese Glass Hand-painted snuff bottle -Fr Shipping $2.00 |
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Inside Painted Snuff Bottle: Monkey & Flowers $38.00 |
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RARE Hand Painted Landscape Pattern Blue White Porcelain Snuff Bottle#376 $8.99 |
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Chinese Reversed Painted Rock Crystal Snuff Bottle $350.00 |
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Rine Hand Painted Pair Fish Pattern Blue White Porcelain Snuff Bottle#377 $8.99 |
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Rare Hand Painted Lucky Child Pattern Blue White Porcelain Snuff Bottle#378 $8.99 |
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Nice Chinese Glass Hand-painted snuff bottle -Fr Shipping $0.99 |
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EXCELLENT Hand Painted People Pattern Multicolor Porcelain Snuff Bottle#379 $8.99 |
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China’s manual painting beauty of old China snuff bottle ★★ $0.01 |
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Elegant Hand Painted Peony Pattern Multicolor Porcelain Snuff Bottle#380 $8.99 |
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BEAUTIFUL Hand Painted Stork Pattern Blue White Porcelain Snuff Bottle#383 $8.99 |
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Sino Tibetan Tibet Turquoise Snuff Bottle w/ Black Painted Details ca. 1920′s $150.00 |
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old polychrome Painted Porcelain Snuff Bottle $93.50 |
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BEAUTIFUL Hand Painted Flower Pattern Blue White Porcelain Snuff Bottle#384 $8.99 |
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BEAUTIFUL Hand Painted Lotus Pattern Multicolor Porcelain Snuff Bottle#385 $8.99 |
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BEAUTIFUL Hand Painted Multicolor Porcelain Snuff Bottle#386 $8.99 |
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Chinese antiques Rose porcelain hand-painted Pumpkin sculpture snuff bottles $16.20 |
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Elegant Hand Painted Lotus Pattern Blue White Porcelain Snuff Bottle#387 $8.99 |
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EXCELLENT Hand Painted Peach Pattern Multicolor Porcelain Snuff Bottle #388 $8.99 |
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A Sweet~Vintage~Germany~Porcleain~Perfume Bottle~Hand Painted~Snuff Bottle?~NR! $21.21 |
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ELEGANT Hand Painted Landscape Pattern Blue White Porcelain Snuff Bottle #389 $8.99 |
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Chinese Ox Bone *Erotic Painting* Snuff Bottle $2.99 |
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RARE Hand Painted Flower Stork Pattern Multicolor Porcelain Snuff Bottle #390 $8.99 |
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Chinese Peking Glass Snuff Bottle -Hand – painted Dragon pattern $32.00 |
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Glass Snuff Bottle Inside painting Chinese four beauty gifts collection Yangguif $4.99 |
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BEAUTIFUL Hand Painted Landscape Pattern Blue White Porcelain Snuff Bottle #391 $8.99 |
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NICE GLASS INSIDE-PAINTED CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLE $10.99 |
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SMALL FAMILLE ENAMEL PAINTED PORCELAIN CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLE $9.99 |
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Museum Quality Hand Painted Multicolor Porcelain Snuff Bottle #392 $8.99 |
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Chinese Ox Bone *Erotic Painting* 2Faces Snuff Bottle $2.99 |
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CHINESE INSIDE PAINTING OLD GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE $0.50 |
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Chinese Peking Glass Snuff Bottle -Hand – painted Flower and bird pattern $31.80 |
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Museum Quality Hand Painted Multicolor Porcelain Snuff Bottle #393 $8.99 |
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Museum Quality Hand Painted Multicolor Porcelain Snuff Bottle #394 $8.99 |
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Museum Quality Hand Painted Peony Pattern Multicolor Porcelain Snuff Bottle #395 $8.99 |
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Chinese Glass Inside Painting 2Faces Snuff Bottle $0.99 |
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Ancient Chinese ceramics manual painting beauty snuff bottle $0.01 |
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Fine Hand Painted Flower Pattern Blue White Porcelain Snuff Bottle #396 $8.99 |
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EXCELLENT Hand Painted Lotus Pattern Multicolor Porcelain Snuff Bottle #397 $8.99 |
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EXCELLENT Hand Painted Multicolor Porcelain Snuff Bottle #398 $8.99 |
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VINTAGE, CHINESE OLD HANDWORK PAINTED DRAGON PHOENIX WHITE GLAZE SNUFF BOTTLE $4.99 |
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ELEGANT Hand Painted Flower Pattern Blue White Porcelain Snuff Bottle #399 $8.99 |
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EARLY 20TH PEKING GLASS INNER PAINTED SNUFF BOTTLE $25.00 |
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BEAUTIFUL Hand Painted Peony Pattern Multicolor Porcelain Snuff Bottle #400 $8.99 |
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EARLY 20TH PEKING GLASS INNER PAINTED SNUFF BOTTLE $25.00 |
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Fine Hand Painted plum blossom Pattern Multicolor Porcelain Snuff Bottle #402 $8.99 |
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Inside Painting Chinese Four Beauty Glass Bottle $0.80 |
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Chinese Enamel Glass Snuff Bottle : Good Grade 1. 100% handpainted ! Snuff bottle is a unique Chinese art craftwork with over 200 years history. 2. Size: 3″x2″x1.5″ (picture is enlarged) . Net weight: 180g. 3. This enamel glass snuff bottle (GuYueXuan) was exquisitely hand made by the artist. 4. It’s a gorgeous gift for your family and friends! It is a unique handicraft for collector to collect !… |
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Chinese Enamel Glass Snuff Bottle : Bring Wealth 1. 100% handpainted ! Snuff bottle is a unique Chinese art craftwork with over 200 years history. 2. Size: 3″x2″x1.5″ (picture is enlarged) . Net weight: 180g. 3. This enamel glass snuff bottle (GuYueXuan) was exquisitely hand made by the artist. 4. It’s a gorgeous gift for your family and friends! It is a unique handicraft for collector to collect !… |
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Chinese Enamel Glass Snuff Bottle: Save Wealth 1. 100% handpainted ! Snuff bottle is a unique Chinese art craftwork with over 200 years history. 2. Size: 3″x2″x1.5″ (picture is enlarged) . Net weight: 180g. 3. This enamel glass snuff bottle (GuYueXuan) was exquisitely hand made by the artist. 4. It’s a gorgeous gift for your family and friends! It is a unique handicraft for collector to collect !… |
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Chinese art: Textiles, glass and painting on glass, carvings in ivory and rhinoceros horn, carvings in hardstone, snuff bottles, inkcakes and inkstones $247.26 … |
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Chinese Snuff Bottles, Jades, Paintings, Textiles and other Works of Art; Sale #4072 (January 25 & 26, 1978) … |
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