T\
SNUFF BOTTLES
The fashion of taking snuff was first introduced sometime during
the l6th century to the Chinese by the Portugese who brought it to
the port of >ncao. Among the ^nchus it was froT-med upon at first as
a messy habit* Perhaps this was before the snuff bottle, as such,
with its tight cork and tiry spoon for the removal of the powder,
had been fully devel.opsd. At the beginning it is known that various
containers were used, medicine and perfume bottles, Sojne of tLe
ermff bottler today are recognizable miniature pcrcelain vases.
The lip of the vase presents a rounded surface instead of the
flat one of the real snuff bottle. The bottle top could never
have fitted as closely.
It is probably because the Oriental had no pocket and the
containers had to be carried in his sleeve that the Oriental used
bottles while the European used boxes.
Tlie snuff taking seoms to have been done daintly. Each snuff
bottle was equipped x-jlth a tight stopper, a tiryr spoon of ivory
or silver or tortoise shell attached* The spoon sometimes shaped as
a tiny hand, was used to transfer a bit of snuff to the thumb-nail
and from there was snilffed up by the aristocratic nose.
In the homes 3arger bottles, table botU.es as th^ are called,
were in evidence for the use of guests, as oiir cigarette containers
are today. Small snuff saucers were distributed to guests also for
the use of their snuff* These were made of as many materials as the
bottles themselves and maiiy people nox^ collect them. An ivory scoop
and funnel were used for gettir^g the snuff into the bottle* The
shaft of the scoop was used for tamping the snuff down.
It has ever been an Or.'iental trait to make of an object of
use a thing of beauty. Tlie use of the snuff bottle coincided with
the time when great ai*t development was taking place under the
patronage of the three ^fenchu nonarchs. It is little wonder
that there should have been la-vished upon the snuff bottle all
the upsurge of the art activity taking place through out the realm*
Some of the materials found in the Chinese snuff bottles are:
Ename 1-in three forms, painted, cloisonne*, champleve*.
Ivory-carved and painted.
Jade-carved, uncarved, embellished, and in every color.
ISetals-gold, silver, pewter, brass, bronze, iron.
Pottery-carved, painted, enameled.
Porcelain-monochrome, carved decoration, appl3.ed decoration,
pierced, underglaze decoration, enamel overglaze, incised,
lacquered.
Also; Coral, lacquer, dried tangerine skin, nut, slate,
tortoise shell, hornbill ivory, calcite, mother-of-pearl.
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ORIENTAL ANTIC.UES
and
CONTEMPORARY GIFTS
DAILY:
E7EIUNG:
SUNDAY:
10:00 A.M. TO 5:30 P.M.
7:30 P.M. TO 10:00 P.M.
1:00 P,H. TO
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