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