Snuff is a powdered tobacco flavoured with aromatic spices which is sniffed, or ‘snuffed’ into the nasal cavity. The name came from the shortened form of the Dutch word snuftabak, from the root words meaning sniff and tobacco. As addictive as smoking but without the smoke, snuff was thought to be more medicinal and thus more moral to use. Snuff originated with tobacco in the Americas and was in common use in Europe by the seventeenth century. The exact timing of its introduction to China is unknown, but by the seventeenth century it was a regular import. Snuff varied enormously depending on its source. Chinese snuff came from the provinces of Shandong, Sichuan, Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu, while the prized imported snuff came from Spain, France, and Scotland, with the most highly regarded of all, Brazil.

Although smoking tobacco was illegal in China during the Qing dynasty, snuff was permitted, as it was considered a remedy for common illnesses such as colds and stomach ailments. Originally produced only for the Emperor, it eventually spread from the court through the upper class and by the end of the 17th century and through the 18th century had become part of social ritual. Like other medicines, snuff was transported in small bottles. Under the moist conditions in many areas of Asia, the early formal European style snuff box with its hinged lid could not impede the humid air from spoiling the dry goods inside. Chinese snuff bottles, with their narrow-stoppered mouths, were superior in mitigating the damaging effects of moisture on the snuff.

Snuff bottles became exquisite works of art representing status and wealth, and were made from many fine materials including ivory, horn, porcelain, precious metals, fine woods, glass and a wide variety of semi-precious stones including jade. The bulbous form would have the inside carved out, then a stopper inserted into the mouth with a small spoon attached for extracting the snuff. Many snuff bottles were left unadorned and devoid of decoration, others elaborately carved or painted. The finest bottles would have the interiors intricately carved out leaving only a thin layer of material for the wall. Artists would include symbols of good luck, prosperity or longevity, include references to legends, history, religion and superstition. Often given as a gift, the giver could thus express their feelings or sentiments through the decoration. Made by craftsmen to be touched and held, snuff bottles have a pleasant tactile quality and sit comfortably in the palm of your hand. Fine snuff bottles have become highly collectible both privately and by museums worldwide.

Chinese white jade carved melon form snuff bottle, carved as a melon with incised ribs and leaf on side, well hollowed, with later jadeite and glass stopper, on carved wooden stand, 18th century. Size: 2 1/4" (2 1/2" with stopper, 3" with base) x 1 1/2" diameter D21078

Chinese mottled white jade carved landscape snuff bottle, carved with fisherman in landscape using mottled skin, reverse with butterfly and flower, well hollowed out, 18th century. Size 2 3/8" (2 3/4" with stopper) x 1 1/2" x 3/8" D21079

Chinese white jade pouch form snuff bottle, carved with monkey grabbing strings, well hollowed, with later Japanese ojime style stopper, 18th/19th century. Size: 2 1/8" (2 5/8" with stopper) x 1 3/4" x 7/8" D21073

*Chinese large hardstone snuff bottle, well hollowed, flask form with monster mask handles, complete with amethyst and silver stopper D21074*

Chinese reverse painted blue glass cylindrical snuff bottle with cloisonne stopper, the inside painted with figures and camels in a landscape, late 19th/early 20th century. Size: 3 1/8" (3 3/4" with stopper) x 1 1/2" diameter D21071

“Inside Painted” glass bottles are decorated with pictures and often calligraphy on the interior surface. The painting is achieved by manipulating the brush through the narrow neck of the glass bottle, and painting in reverse. This difficult technique is extremely time consuming and laborious, often taking weeks or months to complete the miniature painting in a single snuff bottle.