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Chinese Snuff Bottles

Chinese snuff bottles, only a couple inches in height, are pieces of art that once held powdered tobacco as a remedy for headaches, stomachaches, and other ailments. These small bottles can be made from glass, jade, ivory, ceramic, and metal, among other materials. The more intricately and beautifully decorated the bottle, the higher status or rank of the owner in historical China.

Due to the humid climate of China, snuff would normally stick together and become a solid block in a container that was not fully sealed. Realizing this, Emperor Kangxi commissioned the creation of beautifully hand-decorated medicine bottles with well-fitted lids during the Qing Dynasty. Since then, the popularity of these snuff bottles grew and snuff bottles became synonymous with aristocracy.


Quick Facts

  • Influenced by the Jesuit society, the Chinese made many beautiful glass snuff bottles, but later opted for more durable materials like jade or coral since glass tended to shatter during the bitter-cold winters
  • Since the 1920s, snuff has not been in use. Despite this, Chinese snuff bottles continue to be in production and are common collector's items to be proudly displayed
  • During the Yongzheng and Qianlong periods, the Jesuits taught Chinese artisans to enamel on metal or glass. These snuff bottles thus had very Western themes, and are today very rare and sought after

Recommended Items at Auction

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NINE SNUFF BOTTLES, MOSTLY AGATE
Feb 20, 10:00 AM CET
NINE SNUFF BOTTLES, MOSTLY AGATE
by Nagel Auction
Est: €80- €120
€55018 Bids
A COLLECTION OF AGATE, JADE AND GLASS STOPPERS AND COVERS OF SNUFF BOTTLES
Feb 20, 10:00 AM CET
A COLLECTION OF AGATE, JADE AND GLASS STOPPERS AND COVERS OF SNUFF BOTTLES
by Nagel Auction
Est: €50- €80
€65018 Bids
13 SNUFF BOTTLES MADE FROM AGATE, GLASS AND OTHER MATERIALS
Feb 20, 10:00 AM CET
13 SNUFF BOTTLES MADE FROM AGATE, GLASS AND OTHER MATERIALS
by Nagel Auction
Est: €80- €120
€45017 Bids
13 SNUFF BOTTLES, MOSTLY MADE FROM AGATE
Feb 20, 10:00 AM CET
13 SNUFF BOTTLES, MOSTLY MADE FROM AGATE
by Nagel Auction
Est: €150- €250
€50016 Bids
Chinese dragonfly snuff bottle (H:8cm)
Feb 20, 1:00 PM AEDT
Chinese dragonfly snuff bottle (H:8cm)
by Lawsons
Est: AUD60- AUD80
AUD14016 Bids
13 GLASS AND STONE SNUFF BOTTLES
Feb 20, 10:00 AM CET
13 GLASS AND STONE SNUFF BOTTLES
by Nagel Auction
Est: €50- €80
€30015 Bids
LOT OF 16 OBJECTS, PARTLY JADE: SIX SNUFF BOTTLES, A PAIR OF SCROLL ENDS AND EIGHT PIPE MOUTHPIECES
Feb 20, 10:00 AM CET
LOT OF 16 OBJECTS, PARTLY JADE: SIX SNUFF BOTTLES, A PAIR OF SCROLL ENDS AND EIGHT PIPE MOUTHPIECES
by Nagel Auction
Est: €400- €600
€75015 Bids
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SELECTION OF 6 CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES IN ASSORTED STYLES
Feb 20, 9:00 AM AEST
SELECTION OF 6 CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES IN ASSORTED STYLES
by Albion Antique Auction Centre
Est: AUD10- AUD40
AUD12014 Bids
12 GLASS, AGATE AND STONE SNUFF BOTTLES
Feb 20, 10:00 AM CET
12 GLASS, AGATE AND STONE SNUFF BOTTLES
by Nagel Auction
Est: €80- €120
€24013 Bids
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CHINESE PEKING GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE MILK TO GREEN CASED WITH HAND-CARVED TWIN FISH & SILVER FILIGREE TOP
Feb 20, 9:00 AM AEST
CHINESE PEKING GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE MILK TO GREEN CASED WITH HAND-CARVED TWIN FISH & SILVER FILIGREE TOP
by Albion Antique Auction Centre
Est: AUD10- AUD40
AUD19012 Bids
TEN AGATE SNUFF BOTTLES AND OTHER MATERIALS
Feb 20, 10:00 AM CET
TEN AGATE SNUFF BOTTLES AND OTHER MATERIALS
by Nagel Auction
Est: €50- €80
€14011 Bids
12 RECTANGULAR PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLES WITH 'FAMILLE ROSE' FIGURINE AND ZODIAC SIGNS DECORATION
Feb 20, 10:00 AM CET
12 RECTANGULAR PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLES WITH 'FAMILLE ROSE' FIGURINE AND ZODIAC SIGNS DECORATION
by Nagel Auction
Est: €250- €350
€55011 Bids
14 CYLINDRICAL PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLES DECORATED IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE AND COPPER RED
Feb 20, 10:00 AM CET
14 CYLINDRICAL PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLES DECORATED IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE AND COPPER RED
by Nagel Auction
Est: €250- €350
€60010 Bids
TWO AMBER SNUFF BOTTLES
Feb 20, 10:00 AM CET
TWO AMBER SNUFF BOTTLES
by Nagel Auction
Est: €400- €600
€9007 Bids
17 PORCELAIN SNUFFBOTTLES DECORATED IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE, SOME PAINTED WITH COLORED ENAMEL
Feb 20, 10:00 AM CET
17 PORCELAIN SNUFFBOTTLES DECORATED IN UNDERGLAZE BLUE, SOME PAINTED WITH COLORED ENAMEL
by Nagel Auction
Est: €200- €300
€1606 Bids
12 AGATE AND GLASS SNUFF BOTTLES
Feb 20, 10:00 AM CET
12 AGATE AND GLASS SNUFF BOTTLES
by Nagel Auction
Est: €150- €250
€1005 Bids
17 UNDERGLAZE BLUE PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLES
Feb 20, 10:00 AM CET
17 UNDERGLAZE BLUE PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLES
by Nagel Auction
Est: €100- €150
€1305 Bids
20 PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLES WITH POLYCHROME PAINTING OF VARIOUS DEPICTIONS
Feb 20, 10:00 AM CET
20 PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLES WITH POLYCHROME PAINTING OF VARIOUS DEPICTIONS
by Nagel Auction
Est: €100- €150
€804 Bids
Three Chinese Snuff Bottles including Amber
Feb 24, 6:00 PM AEDT
Three Chinese Snuff Bottles including Amber
by Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers
Est: AUD200- AUD400
AUD1204 Bids
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CHINESE PEKING GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE CLEAR TO GREEN CASED WITH HAND-CARVED MONKEYS
Feb 20, 9:00 AM AEST
CHINESE PEKING GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE CLEAR TO GREEN CASED WITH HAND-CARVED MONKEYS
by Albion Antique Auction Centre
Est: AUD10- AUD40
AUD404 Bids
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TWO CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLE ONE IS ENGRAVED BONE THE OTHER HAND-PAINTED PORCELAIN
Feb 20, 9:00 AM AEST
TWO CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLE ONE IS ENGRAVED BONE THE OTHER HAND-PAINTED PORCELAIN
by Albion Antique Auction Centre
Est: AUD10- AUD40
AUD304 Bids
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CHINESE PEKING GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE WITH HAND-PAINTED ENAMEL FENG HUANG SIGNED TO BASE
Feb 20, 9:00 AM AEST
CHINESE PEKING GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE WITH HAND-PAINTED ENAMEL FENG HUANG SIGNED TO BASE
by Albion Antique Auction Centre
Est: AUD10- AUD40
AUD253 Bids
(6) Vintage Chinese Snuff Bottles, Cinnabar, Glass
Feb 22, 10:00 AM MST
(6) Vintage Chinese Snuff Bottles, Cinnabar, Glass
by EJ'S Auction & Appraisal
Est: $0- $0
$253 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Chinese Snuff Bottles


Nagel Auction

Nagel Auction

John Nicholson's Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

John Nicholson's Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

Aguttes

Aguttes

California Asian Art Auction Gallery USA

California Asian Art Auction Gallery USA