Invented in the late Ming dynasty, snuff bottles are one of the most popular art forms in China. With their elegant form and exquisite, unique beauty, they have won the hearts and minds of art lovers around the world. During the early stages of snuff bottle development, they mostly served a purely practical function - holding powdered tobacco, a material used both for smoking and curing illnesses. Later their aesthetic value was greatly prized, and generations of artists worked to improve this art. When in Beijing, go discover the amazing, unique snuff bottles in the city's local shops.
For art fans, the beauty of snuff bottles is sometimes beyond words. Previously used by the rich to symbolize their wealth and status, snuff bottles are usually made of some of the most precious materials - gold, jade, emeralds, pearl, or ivory - and decorated with the most valuable artwork, like paintings, calligraphy, cloisonne, or lacquer. Its small size only adds an additional level of attractiveness.
Chinese snuff bottles were invented based on the snuff box used in Europe. They were first developed in the late Ming dynasty, after tobacco was introduced to China. They gained popularity during the early Qing dynasty, when it became fashionable to own an exquisitely made snuff bottle to show one's status and taste in art.
Smoking tobacco was actually banned during the Qing dynasty, but an exception was made for people who used snuff bottles and inhaled tobacco through their nose, because snuff was believed to be an effective remedy that could cure many illnesses. Many Chinese emperors during this period were lovers of snuff bottles. The Emperor Daoguang even ordered a workshop be built inside the Forbidden City to produce such bottles. In the 1970s, Artists revived the art of making snuff bottles after decades of political turmoil and began to use modern techniques to create new kinds of bottles.
A unique variety of snuff bottles are especially liked by art lovers: "inside painted bottles." A new invention from the late Qing dynasty, it quickly became the most sought-after type of snuff bottle. Created by manipulating a thin stick to paint images on the inside walls, they are admired for their unique beauty and prized for their excellent, complex craftsmanship. Beginning in the 1970s, such bottles gradually came to dominate the market.
Cultural Note: There is a story concerning the origin of "inside painted bottle." The late Qianlong era of the Qing dynasty was a time when corruption was widespread in China. A low-ranking official was one of a few good people working in the government who abhorred bribery. Because he was not willing to give bribes, when he worked on an assignment in Beijing, the corrupted officials in the imperial court never took him seriously, and asked him to wait indefinitely.
The waiting was endless, and soon the official had spent all his money. Penniless, he had to move into a Buddhist temple to live with monks. He soon found that his tobacco was also running out. One day, he discovered the only tobacco left was a little powder in his snuff bottle, so he tried to use a stick to scrape it out. A monk sitting next to him noticed this, and thought of a new idea. Later, using a sharpened stick as tool, the monk experimented with painting images on the inside of snuff bottle and the first "inside painted bottle" was made.
In order to give a specific look to the work, a large variety of materials have been used to create Chinese snuff bottles. But six types of materials are most commonly used: glass, porcelain, jade, amber, agate, and tourmaline. Bottles made of each of these materials are considered different styles. A snuff bottle lover will usually collect at least one bottle in each style.
In the fantastic shops of Beijing, there are many exquisite snuff bottles made by great artists. When you are shopping in the city, don't forget to check them out. If you want to visit the best shops with the best products, you can find a personal shopper to help you with the shopping.
Chinese snuff bottles were invented based on the snuff box used in Europe. They were first developed in the late Ming dynasty, after tobacco was introduced to China. They gained popularity during the early Qing dynasty, when it became fashionable to own an exquisitely made snuff bottle to show one's status and taste in art.
Smoking tobacco was actually banned during the Qing dynasty, but an exception was made for people who used snuff bottles and inhaled tobacco through their nose, because snuff was believed to be an effective remedy that could cure many illnesses. Many Chinese emperors during this period were lovers of snuff bottles. The Emperor Daoguang even ordered a workshop be built inside the Forbidden City to produce such bottles. In the 1970s, Artists revived the art of making snuff bottles after decades of political turmoil and began to use modern techniques to create new kinds of bottles.
A unique variety of snuff bottles are especially liked by art lovers: "inside painted bottles." A new invention from the late Qing dynasty, it quickly became the most sought-after type of snuff bottle. Created by manipulating a thin stick to paint images on the inside walls, they are admired for their unique beauty and prized for their excellent, complex craftsmanship. Beginning in the 1970s, such bottles gradually came to dominate the market.
Cultural Note: There is a story concerning the origin of "inside painted bottle." The late Qianlong era of the Qing dynasty was a time when corruption was widespread in China. A low-ranking official was one of a few good people working in the government who abhorred bribery. Because he was not willing to give bribes, when he worked on an assignment in Beijing, the corrupted officials in the imperial court never took him seriously, and asked him to wait indefinitely.
The waiting was endless, and soon the official had spent all his money. Penniless, he had to move into a Buddhist temple to live with monks. He soon found that his tobacco was also running out. One day, he discovered the only tobacco left was a little powder in his snuff bottle, so he tried to use a stick to scrape it out. A monk sitting next to him noticed this, and thought of a new idea. Later, using a sharpened stick as tool, the monk experimented with painting images on the inside of snuff bottle and the first "inside painted bottle" was made.
In the fantastic shops of Beijing, there are many exquisite snuff bottles made by great artists. When you are shopping in the city, don't forget to check them out. If you want to visit the best shops with the best products, you can find a personal shopper to help you with the shopping.
About the Author:
Author A. Lao has studied Chinese culture and history for years. He now works with a Beijing personal shopper who brings customers to special Chinese stores. Sometimes he plans shopping trips in Beijing.
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