Snuff House Collectibles Everyday (2024)

FAQs

What did people keep in snuff boxes? ›

Snuffboxes were used for containing snuff, a mixture of ground tobacco and scented oils, and were very popular in the 18th century when snuff-taking was fashionable.

An imperial glass snuff bottle can be acquired for under $3,000, while superb and rare examples can range from tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Eighteenth-century bottles with reign marks and made for imperial use, tend to achieve the highest prices at auction.

Snuff bottles were used during the Qing dynasty to contain powdered tobacco. Smoking tobacco was illegal during the Qing dynasty, but the use of snuff was allowed because the Chinese considered snuff to be a remedy for common illnesses such as colds, headaches and stomach disorders.

In the early 1700s in China, snuff bottles were made for the imperial court but popular interest led to increased production in the 1800s. People in all levels of society used snuff and the bottles were not only essential to social interaction but also symbols of status.

They offer a glimpse into the social and cultural history of the time, and the craftsmanship and decorative work of many snuff boxes make them highly sought-after collector's items. Snuff boxes are still made and used by some snuff enthusiasts, but they are primarily collected for their historical and aesthetic value.

Snuff, which is dried, powdered tobacco, was very popular in the eigteenth century. Small amounts of snuff were caried on the person in ornate, tightly sealed boxes. The inside of this box is made from gold, which would not tarnish. The gold would neither affect the snuff powder or be affected by it.

A famille rose enameled glass snuff bottle from the imperial Qianlong palace workshops sold for $3,328,400 on November 28, setting a new world record for a Chinese snuff bottle.

Bottles are also collectible because there are many kinds of bottles, so a collector is sure to find a specific type that they want to focus on, like medicinal bottles, cola bottles, perfume bottles, or ink bottles. Some bottles are valuable because they are rare, but others have little or no value.

Conceived as precious containers for ground tobacco imported into China, snuff bottles were initially made for the emperor and the court, and eventually produced in much greater quantities for a public who enjoyed their functionality as well as their display as symbols of status.

Snuff, a preparation of powdered and processed tobacco, has been widely used in Africa since Europeans introduced tobacco in the 16th century. Offered to visitors or shared among friends, snuff is usually carried in a small container made from a simple gourd or fruit shell.

Are snuff bottles Chinese or Japanese? ›

Decorated with traditional Chinese motifs, the snuff bottles the Japanese made were modeled after the Chinese originals that greatly appealed to collectors of the time.

It is true that the mold seams can be used like a thermometer to determine the approximate age of a bottle. The closer to the top of the bottle the seams extend, the more recent was the production of the bottle.

It is commonly believed that the snuff bottles were introduced into China by the western missionaries. The earliest reference of snuff bottles into China was dated 1684. The missionaries Johannes Gabiani and Johannes Valat greeted Emperor Kangxi and presented the emperor with four European manufactures.

The papier mâché box was used to store snuff, tobacco that is snorted or inhaled through the nose. Snuff, a powdered form of tobacco, was popular in the 1700s and 1800s for its stimulating nicotine boost and was also believed to help relieve common colds and stop snoring.

The main contents of the anatomical snuffbox are the radial artery, a branch of the radial nerve, and the cephalic vein: Radial artery – crosses the floor of the anatomical snuffbox, then turns medially and travels between the heads of the adductor pollicis muscle.

The papier mâché box was used to store snuff, tobacco that is snorted or inhaled through the nose. Snuff, a powdered form of tobacco, was popular in the 1700s and 1800s for its stimulating nicotine boost and was also believed to help relieve common colds and stop snoring.

The snuff box inspired some of the greatest craftsmen and became a symbol of class and social grace. It often featured precious stones on its hinged lid, intricate metalwork and elaborate enamel techniques and work.