| Over a good many years we have created, though I | | | | the jade being highly prized. The chalcedony or quartz |
| say it myself, quite an important Snuff Bottle | | | | bottles once 'Eggshell thin' show up remarkable |
| Collection. My wife, thank goodness, shares my | | | | markings formed from the formation of the |
| interest in these little bottles, but perhaps I should | | | | crystals.FROM FLAWS TO PICTURESEveryone I am |
| warn you, collecting anything is a bit like a bug, once | | | | sure can appreciate such bottles, as the lovely |
| caught, it is with you for ever and can be quite an | | | | shapes and purity of the stone just cannot fail to |
| obsession!Have you ever searched for pebbles or | | | | impress. What I find even more fascinating is the |
| shells along the sea shore, selecting them for either | | | | amazing way they deliberately, brilliantly took |
| colour or shape and found an appeal in handling them, | | | | advantage of flaws and inclusions often present in |
| so much so, that you simply could not throw them | | | | the stones.Most quartz and jade stones have an |
| away? If so, you have the makings of a dedicated | | | | outer layer of a different colour, particularly the |
| collector.Part of the pleasure of owning these snuff | | | | pebbles from the riverbeds. They also have faults |
| bottles is the tactile appeal found in handling | | | | and flaws plus other coloured material, often deep in |
| them.BOUNDLESS POSSIBILITIESThere is also such a | | | | the stone. Sometimes these can be very thin skin-like |
| vast and diverse number of collecting possibilities. A | | | | inclusions, in others large blobs are found.The problem |
| collection could be based on any of the great Chinese | | | | is no one knows just what is in the rock until, as the |
| fine arts and in each field it would be possible to | | | | cuts are made, the secrets of the stone are |
| have really important fine examples in this form of | | | | revealed. It is with this type of material that 'Picture |
| miniature works of art.There are collections based on | | | | agates' are made. The best of these incredible snuff |
| jade and hard stone carvings, others prefer glass and | | | | bottles look as if the inclusion, that forms the image, |
| 'overlay glass', or Chinese porcelain, or enamels and | | | | has appeared in just the right place as if to |
| cloisonne, or you might like to base a collection on | | | | order!There are different types of work within this |
| Paintings.I can imagine how you find it hard to | | | | group of bottles and the first ones are what we call |
| perceive a collection of snuff bottles based on | | | | 'Cameo' carvings. These take advantage of an outer |
| Chinese paintings but they exist. Remarkable signed | | | | skin or a blob type of inclusion; they can be quite |
| landscape scenes and even portraits with superb | | | | thick and are carved in relief. Another type is called |
| calligraphy (often poems) have actually been painted | | | | 'Shadow Agates' and these take advantage of |
| on the inside of glass and even stone snuff | | | | markings in the bottle where, with the help of a little |
| bottles.Some collections feature uncarved bottles of | | | | carving, an image is created. Lastly, the most |
| rare stones, or lacquer, or amber and ivory. Most | | | | fascinating ones are called 'Silhouette Agates' but in |
| collections consist of the collector's favourite subject | | | | this group no apparent carving is required. The image |
| but include a variety of other treasured bottles. | | | | is achieved mainly by the angle and choice of shape, |
| There are collections that use as a theme; animals, or | | | | as well as the size and position of the bottle to be |
| a colour such as 'Imperial yellow', or blue and white, | | | | formed out of the rock. These bottles have to be |
| and as there are so many possibilities, no two | | | | seen to be believed.What is really mind blowing to me |
| collections ever look the same.INTERNATIONAL | | | | is the fact that some of these bottles have pictures |
| CONNECTIONSFor anyone considering buying snuff | | | | on both sides!Sadly, few of them were signed. We |
| bottles I should explain that it is an international | | | | only know that there was a certain school of carvers |
| pursuit. There is even an 'International Chinese Snuff | | | | known as the 'Suzhou School'. Their works are easily |
| Bottle Society' with a large and active membership. | | | | recognised by the style and quality of the carving, |
| Having been members over a long period we have | | | | plus the fact that they make use of every mark in |
| found that fellow members are such interesting and | | | | the stone to form the picture. They are amazing |
| friendly people.There is a bond between a collector | | | | bottles when good, but there are later works that |
| that leads to friendship, until we meet in the auction | | | | tend to look too stiff and the carving lacks the more |
| rooms that is! It is well worth joining, as there is a | | | | fluid artistic touch of the master carvers. |
| very informative, quarterly magazine, full of good | | | | Unfortunately, hardly any of these bottles are really |
| colour photographs. Information is surprisingly, freely | | | | well hollowed.OUR FIRST SNUFF BOTTLESo to |
| shared amongst members and by the specialist | | | | describe my first purchase, this was a 'Shadow |
| dealers. So much can be learned this way, in fact far | | | | Agate picture bottle' involving a little carving, and |
| more than just by studying the many very fine, | | | | very well hollowed. It is a most appropriate subject |
| beautiful books on the subject.DANGEROUS | | | | and colour for a Snuff Bottle because the russet |
| TEMPTATIONSMost people's first encounter with | | | | inclusions have been used to show 'Putai Ho-Shang'. |
| these snuff bottles is likely to be at antique shops, | | | | He is always depicted as a very corpulent man with a |
| auctions or antique fairs, otherwise in a museum or | | | | bare chest and abdomen and he is the patron saint |
| perhaps by meeting a collector. Once seen, certain | | | | of tobacconists. In this bottle he appears surprised by |
| people are tempted when next coming across a | | | | a bat whilst sitting below some tobacco leaves. The |
| bottle to buy, but all too often these first purchases | | | | bat to the Chinese is a good luck symbol. You can |
| are of very poor quality. Later on, having acquired | | | | see how easily he appears, nicely placed within the |
| more knowledge, these first bottles so often prove | | | | bottle yet only his head and a suggestion of his hand |
| to be disappointing. They often can turn out to be | | | | have been carved. (See the photograph by using the |
| very costly mistakes. Unfortunately, there are far | | | | link at the bottom of this article).We now own a |
| too many very poor bottles about, some are even | | | | number of 'Picture Agates' and to illustrate the |
| brand new, made to cash in from the collecting craze. | | | | different types described, the photograph of the |
| Even an article like this one can cause someone to | | | | duck with lingzhi fungus in its beak is a good |
| go and buy without sufficient knowledge, I do hope | | | | 'Silhouette' example. Incidentally, the fungus is a |
| not.My advice is that apart from joining the society, | | | | symbol for wishing long life. This bottle is very |
| attend some snuff bottle auctions and visit some of | | | | unusual as there is a recess carved originally to |
| the specialist dealers.When you go to the auction | | | | create the image that serves as a built in dish. (See |
| rooms be sure to go on the viewing days, usually | | | | the photograph by using the link at the bottom of |
| one or two days before the sale. The first impression | | | | this article).Lastly, a superb bottle of fishes with |
| will probably be one of disappointment as there will | | | | pictures on both sides: the pair of fishes are 'cameo' |
| be lots of poor quality snuff bottles and to see so | | | | carved and to the Chinese represent fidelity and |
| many all lying down, behind glass, is not the best way | | | | happy conjugal rights in marriage. On the other side a |
| of presenting them.Be sure to select a few that | | | | fish and aquatic plants make use of every mark in |
| appeal to you and ask to inspect them. You will then | | | | the stone, all this on a well shaped bottle that is very |
| be given a chance to handle some, and that is when | | | | well hollowed. All these bottles illustrated were made |
| the magic can begin. I do not know how to explain | | | | between 1750 and 1860. (See the photograph by |
| what happens, but there is something of a tactile | | | | using the link at the bottom of this |
| pleasure that is only obtained from handling a good | | | | article).ASSESSMENTTo effectively judge hard stone |
| piece.OUR COLLECTIONI should point out that our | | | | carvings, the first consideration should be concerned |
| first bottle did not immediately grab my attention. | | | | with the overall artistic impression. You need to be |
| Surrounded by many beautiful and more colourful | | | | satisfied that the work looks well composed and well |
| snuff bottles of all shapes and sizes in a dealers | | | | positioned and that the images formed are flowing |
| display cabinet, this brown and beige coloured bottle | | | | rather than stiff and awkward. The next stage is to |
| looked rather drab. Eventually, I came round to | | | | have a closer look at the technical skills. When I look |
| inspect it and before too long I knew that I had to | | | | at a cameo type of carving I study the shape and |
| buy it.Only another collector can fully appreciate that | | | | finish of the background, close to the edge of the |
| overpowering urge that comes over one, it is the | | | | carving. On poorer bottles this can be indented, |
| closest feeling to that of love at first sight. I have | | | | uneven and not so well polished as the rest. Really |
| been told that one's pupils tend to enlarge, and this is | | | | fine examples look as if the raised cameo part has |
| one of the signs that dealers watch out for, and as | | | | simply been glued onto a beautifully formed bottle. |
| collectors, of course, we always try desperately to | | | | Engraved work at its best is very precise and |
| camouflage our interest. This snuff bottle was | | | | provides the detail. When closely looking at a poor |
| purchased, which is still a favourite, and it has formed | | | | bottle the engraved parts can look very |
| the basis of our collection.Our collection included many | | | | crude.Beware, amazing glass imitation stone bottles |
| types of snuff bottles but features mostly hard | | | | exist. To check for these use a magnifying glass and |
| stones, known as 'Picture Agates', each one of these | | | | look for tiny bubbles or pin size holes on the surface. |
| being a unique piece, as there can never be two alike. | | | | As a last resort if still in doubt, a penknife will easily |
| To fully appreciate these snuff bottles I need to tell | | | | scratch the base if it is glass, whereas a stone will |
| you more about how a stone bottle was made. All | | | | not be marked.In evaluating the value of all artwork a |
| good early snuff bottles were made to be used and | | | | careful check for any damage is essential. With stone |
| they needed to be small, yet capable of holding | | | | bottles the following points should help. Firstly, assess |
| plenty of snuff, not too heavy as they were carried | | | | how well the bottle has been hollowed by holding it |
| on their person, often in the sleeve. All these bottles | | | | up to the light. Inspect the stone from all angles in |
| were designed to feel comfortable in the hand and | | | | the light and with light from behind. If the stone is |
| were sealed with a cork, to keep the snuff at its | | | | cracked it will be visible often as a star shape from |
| best.In Europe hinged boxes were used but perhaps | | | | the point of impact. Some stones have natural flaws |
| the humidity in China caused them to prefer bottles | | | | that are not cracks. I then have a good look at the |
| with corks. All snuff bottles have a stopper on to | | | | foot rim and the neck of the bottle, as these areas |
| which a cork is fixed, and at the other end of the | | | | are the most susceptible to damage. If none is |
| cork is an ivory spoon. These stoppers rarely | | | | apparent I consider the proportions to make sure |
| matched the bottles other than in size and shape. It | | | | neither has been ground down to remove a |
| was a matter of personal choice as to what type | | | | chip.When inspecting the neck as viewed looking |
| and colour was considered best to go with the snuff | | | | down into the bottle the top surface should be |
| bottle.WELL HOLLOWED BOTTLESStone bottles | | | | concave, not flat. Bottles that have had the neck |
| were carved in a large variety of shapes but always | | | | repaired to remove any damage are always flat, and |
| with a fairly small opening in the neck normally about | | | | you can be sure no longer original.SNUFF BOTTLES |
| 5mm in diameter. Just imagine a lump of quartz rock | | | | WERE USEDThere is one other criterion that I |
| that is quite impossible to scratch even with your | | | | personally believe is important. Most of the best |
| stainless steel penknife, yet in the 18th century this | | | | stone bottles were made between 1750 and 1860, |
| was carved into a bulbous shaped bottle.Next it was | | | | although many poor bottles have been made since |
| drilled through the neck and hollowed out through this | | | | then, right up to the present day. These late bottles |
| small hole, so that even difficult areas such as the | | | | were not really made for use, and some are referred |
| shoulders of the bottle are really thin. Fine bottles are | | | | to as 'Cabinet Pieces' and can fairly easily be |
| so well hollowed that they look more like blown glass, | | | | identified. They are poorly hollowed, if at all. Some |
| and are aptly described as 'Eggshell Thin'. Should you | | | | just have a drilled hole in them and so they feel far |
| place them in a bowl of water they will trap enough | | | | too heavy. They also tend to be very showy in |
| air to float.Although I have mentioned that drilling was | | | | choice of materials, with impractical rather high and |
| used, the information available about the | | | | sharp carving that feels most uncomfortable in the |
| manufacturing methods is incredible, as the drill and | | | | hand. There are others so delicately carved that one |
| cutting discs were foot operated 'Heath Robinson' | | | | instinctively knows that they could not survive actual |
| affairs. However I do believe after many years | | | | use. It is only possible to make these judgements by |
| experience, they acquired more control and feel than | | | | comparison. Experience is needed and takes time to |
| is possible with modern electronic equipment | | | | acquire.SMALL IS BEAUTIFULThere are advantages in |
| (essential in working on jade as certain parts of the | | | | collecting very small items as they are not too |
| stone can easily fracture whilst other areas are very | | | | obtrusive and can easily be locked away. This is very |
| hard).Most of the carving was achieved by grinding | | | | important if your partner does not share your |
| with jade, gem stone, sand and other abrasive | | | | interest! They can also make a beautiful display |
| particles. First by drilling and then hollowing out by | | | | without completely disrupting your home.Try to be |
| carefully grinding away with special file-like tools. | | | | certain that you really are enthusiastic about collecting |
| These tools were made by hammering metal shapes | | | | before you buy one. Once you place one in your |
| over the abrasive particles that once embedded, | | | | home and it looks so small and appealing, it is only a |
| were easily bent to reach the most awkward | | | | matter of time before you will come to the |
| parts.The Chinese appreciated these wonderful stone | | | | conclusion that a little group of bottles will look so |
| snuff bottles and they were fashioned from many | | | | much better. This tends to play on one's mind and |
| types of stone, the purity of the material, particularly | | | | that is how we all get hooked! |