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Both
Chinese snuff bottles, as well as the tobacco
powder contained by the Chinese snuff bottles
were at the very core of a fashion whose
popularity had never before been experienced in
China�s extensive history.
Due to it�s exceptional versatility of
style, technique and material, all in one small
object, as well as the fine craftsmanship, these
tiny masterpieces quickly became one of the most
notable representations of the use of artistic
skill throughout the Qing Dynasty.
There
are many different beliefs as to who introduced
the use of tobacco to the Chinese. I have read
that the Russians, Manchu, Portuguese, and the
Jesuit Priests brought tobacco to China. I would
venture to say that it is likely that different
people, around the same time, introduced it in
different regions. That time would be the early
to mid 1600's.
Although
legally, the smoking of tobacco was not
permitted, its use as snuff was considered
perfectly acceptable, as it was thought to have
valuable medicinal applications.
Tobacco was thought to be a great way to
treat colds, headaches, stomach disorders and
many other symptoms and illnesses.
Powdered tobacco, as well as the majority
of other Chinese medications, was dispensed in
bottles, as opposed to the boxes that were used
in Europe.
Though
snuff was originally only a luxury experienced
by the elite of the new Qing Dynasty house, its
popularity, along with the popularity of the
snuff bottle, became much more available in and
around the Beijing court by the close of the
seventeenth century. The heart of the
recognition of snuff and snuff bottles remained
in and around Beijing�s court until the end of
the eighteenth century, developing the use of
snuff into a common social ritual for the upper
classes. The
snuff therefore had to be contained in something
that would contribute to this newfound fashion,
and therefore, large amounts of art, taste and
money were spent on the acquisition of
attractive snuff bottles.
Snuff bottles also started being used for
the attainment of favors, positions, status as
well as advancement in government.
During
the 1700's snuff increased in popularity among
the Chinese, which created a great demand for
Snuff Bottles. They became conversation pieces
and collectable items almost immediately. Collecting
snuff bottles became the newest nationwide
habit, and it spread to all of the social
classes with the actual snuff-taking, at the
very end of the eighteenth century. The finer
the snuff bottle, the more respected was its
owner.
Snuff
bottles were made out of every material of which
the Chinese knew.
This included glass, porcelain, jade and
other hardstones, ivory, coral, lacquer, amber,
wood, etc. |
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Curios
& Stands
The
first style or type of Peking Glass bottle is the
translucent or opaque single color bottle. These bottles are
made in every color imaginable. These were also the first
glass snuff bottles to be produced. One of the most popular
colors produced was "Imperial Yellow".
Mottled
Glass is a mixture of several different colors
of glass that are combine in a molten state to
create patterns and swirls. Many different
interesting designs can be create with this
technique. Flakes of gold are sometimes added as
in the example.
Carved
Glass bottles are typically made from a single color glass
and either molded or carved. Most of the bottles are carved
from a small block of glass and hollowed out as a stone
snuff bottle would be.
Glass
Imitating other materials gave the artist
an opportunity to display the best
qualities of their glass making skills.
Many of these bottles are nearly
impossible to distinguish from the real
materials without using some type of
magnifier.
Single
color overlay bottles are made with one color base glass and
a contrasting color overlay. The base color is most
frequently either clear or opaque white. The lesser quality
overlay bottles are all single color overlay, but some very
high quality bottles are also produced. When determining the
value of a Peking Glass bottle the details in the carving is
the most important aspect.
Bubble
Glass snuff bottles are made by heating
the molten glass to a very high
temperature and forcing air into the
mixture. Impurities are also added to the
mixture to produce the snowflake glass.
Most of the Bubble Glass bottles are clear
glass but some colored bubble glass
bottles are made as well.
Multi-color
overlay are made by using different colors side by side on
the top layer. Two basic grades of these bottles exist. The
first and least expensive uses random placement of the
color. The second and better quality, the different colors
are part of separate components of the design.
Seal
Type overlay bottles have a very delicate "seal"
carved on the bottle. This seal is the Name of the Artist,
Name of the School in which he works, or the Dynasty after
which the design was made.
Multi-Layer
overlay are perhaps the most desirable of all Peking Glass
bottles. They require much more expertise and are generally
only made by the most experience artists. These can be two
layers of overlay glass to as many as four or five layers.
The quality of the carving and the thickness of the layer
both play a part in determining the value. (the thinner the
layers the better)
Carved
Multi-layer overlay is perhaps the finest display of glass
carving there is. The base glass is first carved in the
shape of a flower or fruit, then multiple layers are added.
Each layer is perfectly carved to expose only certain parts
of the layer below.
