ISBN: 9789810578862
Asian Civilsations Museum
Hard back: 416 pages
May 2007
S$295.00 |
Chinese
Snuff Bottles - From the Sanctum of Enlightened Respect III
by Denis S.K.Low
The art of snuff bottle has its origins in the introduction of tobacco
snuff to the Imperial Court of the Manchus (Qing Dynasty 1642-1911).
Powdered snuff was regarded as having medicinal qualities and with
Court patronage, rapidly grew in popularity. Ornate snuff bottles,
styled after medicine containers were created by Chinese crafts
men from a vast array of materials: porcelain, enamel, metal, wood,
jadeite, ivory, glass and others, using techniques and technologies
only known in China at the time. Snuff bottles are elaborately decorated,
invariably miniature and admired for their tactile qualities. The
surviving examples are highly prized by collectors and students
of the history of arts and crafts of China. This new book and catalogue
showcases in depth the style, history and significance of rare and
beautiful bottles from 17th Century until the end of Imperial China
and beyond. The author, creator of a world class collection from
only the best sources, provides new insights into the sumptuous
world of an art form attracting increased interest worldwide and
provides specialists and the lay reader with a major new reference
source for the Chinese snuff bottle community. |
