Product Description

In Chinese folk art, there is one very unusual art form. It is called the Snuff Bottle.

    A Snuff Bottle is a special instrument for containing snuff. Snuff is a kind of pharmaceutical preparation in which perfectly ground tobacco powder is added to some rare medicinal herbs such as musk, etc. They are sealed into the wax pills and then stained several different colors, such as dark purple, deep yellow, pale yellow, etc. It tastes, when taken in pill form, mellow and sharp. It is said that it can make the eyes bright, exorcise epidemic disease, and invigorate blood circulation. From the beginning of the Ming Dynasty to the middle of Qing Dynasty, it spread widely.

   Because of the Snuff Bottle’s unique style, small and exquisite shape, abundant material, excellent skill, appropriate decoration and being easy to carry, it became a practical handicraft article for gifts in Qing Dynasty. Although only small portion of the population smell snuff, the snuff bottle’s artistic charm still attracts more and more collectors. The International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society is an excellent example of promoting these collectables.