| During the reign of the Qing dynasty of China | | | | for their beauty rather than for their utility. |
| smoking tobacco was prohibited and considered | | | | Inside Painted |
| illegal. However the Chinese used the powdered | | | | The most interesting among the snuff bottles are |
| form as a snuff for curing common ailments like | | | | those which have their insides painted. These glass |
| cough, cold, headaches and stomach problems. | | | | bottles have pictures and calligraphy on the inside |
| Snuff was carried in small bottles as a medicine | | | | of the glass. These marvelous paintings are about |
| and is the same as the snuff box that was used | | | | an inch or two in height and required excellent |
| by the Europeans. Later the use of snuff and | | | | craftsmanship to manipulate the brush through |
| bottles was popularized by the elite class and it | | | | the narrow neck of the bottle. Inside painted |
| became a social norm to use snuff. Gradually the | | | | snuff bottles are still available and those made for |
| use of snuff spread to the remaining classes as | | | | collectors are expensive pieces while those made |
| well and greeting relatives and friends with a pinch | | | | as souvenirs are inexpensive. |
| of snuff became a common practice. | | | | Antique Snuff Bottles |
| Status Symbol | | | | Some of the antique snuff bottles have portraits |
| The bottles started becoming prominent as a | | | | on one side and calligraphy on the other which are |
| means of displaying the class a person belonged | | | | painted inside. The skill used in creating finer details |
| to. The most rare and finest bottles classified | | | | to these portraits to give them photograph like |
| your status as the highest. The bottles were | | | | images is probably the reason for its expensive |
| looked upon as objects of beauty. They were of | | | | price tag. |
| the size that could fit inside your palm and made | | | | Symbols Used |
| of materials such as porcelain, wood, ivory, jade, | | | | Most of the symbols used on these snuff bottles |
| ceramic, metal and even tortoiseshells. The most | | | | are those that are meant to bring in luck, wealth, |
| common material that was used was glass. They | | | | health and even immortality to its owner. There |
| came with little spoons to extract the snuff. The | | | | are representations such as the personal disciples |
| European women used snuff bottles made of cut | | | | of Buddha who are immortal. The use of animals |
| glass. | | | | are also prevalent, the most common being that |
| Decorative Pieces | | | | of a dragon. The horse is perceived by the |
| The Chinese snuff bottles were beautifully | | | | Chinese as a symbol of power, speed, rank, |
| decorated with paintings and carvings that helped | | | | wealth and perseverance and is used commonly |
| to distinguish their value and quality. These | | | | on the bottles as well. The hare is believed to |
| decorative bottles were and still require long | | | | represent long life and immortality. Other common |
| durations to be completed and are in demand as | | | | symbols are the three legged toad which |
| collections of art. The period between 1820 and | | | | represents wealth and fish that represents |
| 1830 was one when snuff bottles were known | | | | prosperity, harmony and marital bliss. |