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