Chinese Snuff Bottles

Chinese Snuff Bottles is invaluable document for all interested in the history of Chinese art. It is also a lucid and fascinating guidebook for the collector or would be collector, both of snuff bottles and other products of Chinese craftsmanship. All the skills and ingenuity of the Chinese artisans were lavished upon the production of these tiny bottles, making them pre-eminent representatives of the best in Chinese craftsmanship. This classic art history book is the first full account in any language of this facet of Chinese art. It includes a comprehensive treatment of the origins and development of the snuff bottle in China as well as over 150 actual-size reproductions, the majority in full color. It is a fascinating story by an enthusiastic collector, who captivated by the beauty and ingenuity found in these bottles, had the interest to delve into the historical background techniques of manufacture, kind and quality of materials, classification and organization of types, and the like, as well as a delightfully informal style with which to communicate her wide knowledge and enthusiasm to the reader.

One of the loveliest objects to come from China's Imperial history is the snuff bottle--elegant, tactile, beautifully crafted, and above all small; it makes an ideal subject for collectors. This book clearly explains the history of snuff and its specialized bottles from the 17th century to the present in America, Europe, and China. For the novice, it provides fascinating background and descriptive information, and for the established collector it showcases over 650 diverse snuff bottles to study and admire through excellent color photographs. There are examples of glass, stone, porcelain, enamel, wood, ivory, amber and other bottles with distinctive interior and exterior decorations. Each bottle is fully described with a value range. This book shows that it is not necessary to be wealthy to own good snuff bottles, nor is it guaranteed that only wealthy collectors have the best ones. Be prepared to be delighted in this addictive collecting field.

Out of print for more than 10 years, this exceptional book has become a rare item sought after by collectors for many years. This important limited edition reprint is inevitable and fulfills the growing need of new collectors for reliable and useful reference on the subject. This book is produced in Japan with high quality to ensure the superb feel of the original edition. Each copy is hand-numbered. It covers snuff bottles made of all the various precious materials and discusses the fundamentals of collecting and details of the symbolism, motifs, reign marks, and seals. Moreover, it includes extensive bibliography useful for further research.

Imperial Court of the Manchus (Qing Dynasty 1642-1911). Powdered snuff was regarded as having medicinal qualities and with Court patronage, rapidly grew in popularity. Ornate and intricate bottles to hold and dispense the "medicinal" snuff were designed by Chinese craftsmen using a bewildering array of materials: porcelain, enamel, metal, wood, jadeite, ivory and glass, often employing techniques known only in China at the time. Snuff bottles are elaborately decorated, invariably miniature and admired for their tactile qualities. The surviving examples are highly prized by collectors and students of the history of arts and crafts in China. This book is the third catalogue of the vast Denis Low collection of snuff bottles, which numbers more than 1000. Its publication coincides with an exhibition of 355 snuff bottles from this world-renowned collection at the Asian Civilisations Museum of Singapore from July to November 2007. Largely organised by the material of fabrication, each snuff bottle is carefully described and provenance details are given. Although this book is not meant to be a scholarly study of snuff bottles, much research has been done by Denis Low, the results of which can be seen from the notes he presents on the style, design, decoration, use or uniqueness of each example featured here.

Now part of the collection of the Seattle Art Museum, the Thai Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles contains an outstanding group of over 40 bottles of superb quality.