Gorgeous Antique Reproduction Cinnabar Ancestor Snuff Bottle Dragon Motif incredibly detailed carved dragons dance across the bottle accented by greek key motif on top and bottom. Perfect to start or add to your collection.
DIMENSION: 3" H x 1 1/8" DIAMETER
ORIGIN: Chinese Export
HISTORY & FACTS: Chinese snuff bottles were traditionally only made in the Qing Dynasty, which started in 1644 and ended in 1911, used for holding powdered tobacco, usually with some herbs and spices in it, which was inhaled through the nose.
They started in the imperial court. For the first hundred years of their existence, throughout much of the 18th century, tobacco was exceedingly expensive in China, so taking snuff was for the imperial family and the influential elite of Chinese Society. It wasn’t until the 19th century that you see a diffusion to the general population.
They stopped using snuff in China about the 1920s; however, there were still artisans who continued to make Snuff Bottles, primarily for the foreign collectors market. You may notice that there’s an enormous collectors market going on now, both reproductions as well as 18th- or 19th-century bottles. While a bottle made for export or museum reproduction will range around $50 to $150, while authentic 18th century bottles can bring $5000 to $10000 each.
Source: Collectors Weekly; Maribeth Keane
