The Imperial Palace Collection of Snuff Bottles

Author: compiled by the Forbidden City Publishing House
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-08-01
Features: The snuff bottle is a container for holding snuff, with a small mouth and a large body. A tight small lid is placed on the mouth, connected to a small spoon below, which is stored inside the body. By opening the lid, one can take out a spoonful of snuff. The snuff bottle has become a valuable collectible because it uses a wide variety of materials and combines multiple forms of art and craft, serving as a microcosm of the prosperity and development of ancient Chinese art and craft. The habit of inhaling snuff originated in Europe. In the early 17th century, merchants and missionaries who came to China introduced snuff to the country. The Chinese then learned to inhale snuff, which led to the creation of snuff bottles. The earliest record of snuff bottles belongs to Wang Shizhen, the imperial counselor during the Kangxi reign. In his Notes on Fragrances (), written in the 42nd and 43rd years of the Kangxi reign (1703-1704), he said: "Recently, in the capital, snuff has been made, said to be effective for the next day and even for preventing epidemics. It is stored in glass bottles. An ivory spoon is used to inhale the snuff, which is then returned to the bottle. All are made by the imperial workshop. The common people may imitate them, but they are never as good." The Imperial Household Department's Workshops were established in the 19th year of the Kangxi reign (1680). It was a royal workshop specializing in making imperial items. Among the workshops that made snuff bottles were the Glass Workshop, Enamel Workshop, Jade Workshop, Ivory Carving Workshop, Copper Workshop, Inlay Workshop, and a special workshop—the gourd cultivation garden. Supporting workshops included the Engraving Workshop, Gold Plating Workshop, Woodworking Workshop, Lacquer Workshop, and Miscellaneous Workshop. These workshops included official workshops from other regions, manufacturing various snuff bottles according to the needs of the Imperial Household. Because emperors of all Qing dynasties loved snuff bottles, civil and military ministers and local officials, in order to please the emperor, would use various methods to present them.