Snuff bottles are specially used for holding snuff.
snuff is a kind of tobacco product, which is made by baking, removing stems, powdering, fermenting and adding spices, and smelling it with the nose. Snuff became popular in Europe in the 17th century and was introduced to China in the later period. At first, there was no special container in China. Since Daoguang period of Qing Dynasty, a special snuff bottle was made by the hall of mental cultivation Office in the palace, and a small spoon was attached to the lid of the bottle for scooping up cigarette powder.
The snuff bottle also has the functions of giving gifts and status symbols. Although it has only a history of 3 years since the Qing Dynasty, it has always been favored by Chinese and western museums and collectors because of its small size and delicacy, and it has become one of the important items of modern cultural relics in China.
Extended information:
Origin
The custom of smoking snuff originated from the Indian inventor of tobacco.
Han people began to sniff snuff in the Ming dynasty. At the end of the Ming Dynasty, snuff was rarely imported, and only Guangdong was smoked. Kangxi opened the sea ban, and western missionaries carried a lot of snuff and glass bottles containing snuff. Snuff smoking is becoming a fashion. Emperor Qianlong often rewarded princes and ministers with snuff, and so on, gradually smoking snuff became a social fashion.
Snuff bottles are specially used for holding snuff. For convenience of carrying, they are generally as big as a pack of cigarettes. There are more than 2 bronze carved Yunlong snuff bottles made by Cheng Rongzhang of Shunzhi, which are the earliest snuff bottles. Kangxi had a soft spot for western handicrafts. He absorbed a group of Westerners who were familiar with making glass snuff bottles and painting enamel, and made snuff bottles in the Forbidden City. The art of snuff bottles reached its peak during the Qianlong Dynasty. It is a common practice to enjoy the collection of snuff bottles, and the use of snuff is gradually second. The snuff bottle became something to show identity when it was dry.
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