Types of Snuff Bottles

Precious Stone and Mineral Snuff Bottles

Many of the precious stone and mineral snuff bottles existing today were made by the Imperial Household Department of the Qing Dynasty. The stones often have a hardness of 6 or 7 out of the moh scale. The stones had to be carved into the shapes of the bottles and decorated on the outside. The inside of the snuff bottles also had to be dug out through the mouth of the bottle. During the Qing Dynasty, there was no electricity or any technology to perform such task other than human skill. The way it was done is considered as virtually impossible today.

Metal Snuff Bottles

There are two main types of metal snuff bottles that exist today. One is with a silver body, commonly inlaid with precious stones or bearing decorated motifs depicting the eight trigrams or celestial stems and terrestrial branches. Another is with a copper body, and makes up the majority. Most of the copper snuff bottles are of painted enamel type. Black was the most favored color for the background. Most of the pictures on metal snuff bottles were based on traditional Chinese painting of birds and flowers.

Glass Snuff Bottles

The majority of Chinese glass bottles were made by craftsmen from Shandong and Guangdong providences and western missionary artists. Overlay techniques were used intensively on glass snuff bottles.

Glass Painted Enamel Snuff Bottles

A considerable number of glass painted enamel snuff bottles from the reign of Qianlong exist today. These pieces are known as "Guyuexuan". The glass bodies were made in two types - opaque white and translucent.

Inside Painted Snuff Bottles

The great innovation by the Chinese in producing glass snuff bottles was the invention of inside painting. Inside painted snuff bottles were also sometimes made of rock crystal and amber.

Porcelain Snuff Bottles

The porcelain snuff bottles were made in a great variety of shapes, resembling corncobs and lotus flowers, or in double-layered openwork designs.