Speaking of snuff boxes, you may not know much about them, but when it comes to snuff bottles, there are many scenes about snuff bottles in the popular TV series " Startling by Each Step " in the past few years.

　　" Startling by Each Step " Poster

　　Among them, the Siye gave Ruoxi a snuff bottle he carefully drew as a token of love with cute animals painted inside. The pot is painted with two white dogs bullying a poodle. Siye uses this cute puppy to tease Ruoxi. The pattern inside carries the infinite affection of the Siye.

　　With the popularity of " Startling by Each Step ", snuff bottles were immediately loved by countless netizens and many collectors did not hesitate to spend a lot of money to purchase them.

Snuff bottle detail

　　The snuff bottle given to Ruoxi by Siye

　　Snuff as a tobacco product was originally a Western product. After snuff was introduced to China from Europe in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, snuff boxes gradually became oriental and snuff bottles were produced.

　　snuff

　　The snuff bottle (snuff box) actually refers to a container for holding snuff. It is small and can be held in the hand and is easy to carry.

　　Nowadays, people's habit of using snuff has almost disappeared, but snuff bottles (snuff boxes) have been passed down as a kind of exquisite art and have been in great use for a long time. They are even known as "a miniature art that combines a variety of craftsmanship"."Quality", why is this?

　　Treasure in your hand: Western snuff box

　　During the two voyages of Columbus's fleet in 1492 and 1497, the missionary Roman Payne discovered that the local indigenous people, the Indians, had a peculiar custom of snuff-taking. Many adventurers from Portugal and Spain transported this tobacco back to Europe, and it quickly setted off a fashion trend of snuff-sniffing in the French court and Spain. As a result, the traditional use of pipes as a smoking method was gradually abandoned by the upper class and became a symbol of the lower class.

　　pipe

　　As the custom of sniffing spread in Europe, a small square box used to hold snuff gradually became popular among European royal families. This container was not only easier to carry around, but also prevented the tobacco from being contaminated. The evaporation of the water kept it fresh, and this was what became known as early snuff boxes.

　　British woman taking snuff painting

　　By the 17th and 18th centuries, snuff smoking had become a popular trend in Europe and gradually became popular throughout Europe. It gradually became standard for a "man of taste" to display a large number of snuff boxes owned by one according to fashion, season and social circumstances. Snuff boxes are defined as an important symbol of distinguished status in upper class society. In his novel "Jacques and His Master", the French writer Diderot directly defined "servants, clocks and snuff boxes" as symbols of social status. In the Western aristocratic circles at that time, whether you smoked snuff or not, having a snuff box that was exquisite and luxurious was a necessity for style.

　　It was not until the 19th century that the popularity of snuff declined, but it did not diminish the unique charm of this pocket-sized work of art as an artistic treasure.

　　snuff box exhibit

　　The innovation and development of snuff boxes have witnessed centuries of social changes in Europe, leaving behind many beautiful works.

　　Since snuff boxes have become widely loved by the public, their production materials have become more diverse. As for the snuff boxes collected by the Gilberts in this exhibition, their production materials mainly include gold, silver, copper, ivory, pearls, Glass, agate, ruby, diamond, tortoise shell, etc. These snuff boxes are exquisite and colorful. Their amazing craftsmanship and expensive materials are truly eye-catching and worth savoring.

　　snuff box exhibit

　　Similar to the jewelry style of the same period in the 18th century, the production of these snuff boxes was mainly reflected in enamel, gilt, carving, inlay and other popular techniques at the time. The precious materials and extraordinary craftsmanship not only make snuff boxes a sought-after work of art, but also endow them with rich social value.

　　Snuff boxes were originally only popular as a personal accessory. However, starting in the 1720s, because of their wide variety of materials, flexible colors and shapes, they can be adapted to different diplomatic occasions, the level of the recipient, and even Some subtle differences have changed, and it has gradually been regarded as an increasingly important diplomatic gift.

　　City of London Heraldic Liberty Box

　　The custom of display or display snuff boxes soon became established in Europe and Russia. In order to demonstrate their extraordinary artistic taste, the royal family at that time commissioned many well-known goldsmiths to design and produce handicrafts that matched their aesthetics to demonstrate their country's wealth and technological strength.

　　Double switch snuff box

　　Many emperors were enthusiastic fans of snuff boxes, and Napoleon was one of them. After Napoleon became emperor in 1804, he immediately revived the tradition of giving snuff boxes as diplomatic gifts that had prevailed before the French Revolution, and used it to consolidate his family's newfound preeminence.

　　At the same time, he also developed a strict hierarchy and budget for these snuff boxes, from simple tortoiseshell to more luxurious versions, such as this gold Napoleon I snuff box in this exhibition.

　　Gold snuff box of Napoleon I

　　In addition to diplomacy, these precious snuff boxes are often given as gifts by kings to princes, princesses and important ministers in recognition of their brilliant achievements and outstanding contributions. For example, the snuff box of Queen Victoria in this exhibition .

　　Queen victoria snuff box

　　King Frederick the Great of Prussia (Frederick II) was the number one fan of snuff boxes. He collected more than 300 snuff boxes which could basically be rotated every day. It is said that Frederick II took these snuff boxes with him wherever he went, even going into the battlefield. Unexpectedly, he accidentally saved himself because of this incredible move. In 1759, Frederick was fighting bravely at the Battle of Kunersdorf and was accidentally hit by a bullet. Fortunately, the snuff box in his pocket blocked the bullet and saved his life.

　　Frederick the Great snuff box

　　There are also embossed snuff boxes commemorating Thomas Dimsdale and his son Nathaniel Dimsdale, both outstanding figures in the medical field of vaccination, a Liberty Box with the coat of arms of the City of London, and Lifelike butterfly snuff boxes, etc.

　　Snuff box (to Nathaniel Dimsdale)

　　butterfly snuff box

　　With the decline of European aristocracy, these luxury collections also flowed into the market. Some valuable snuff boxes have also found their way into the hands of modern high-ranking officials, tycoons, and film and television stars. Today's Americans such as the Reagans, Hillary Clinton and movie star Elizabeth Taylor all have the habit of collecting snuff boxes. A descendant of the tire king (Firestone) now has more than 100 valuable snuff boxes in his collection.

　　Seeing the big in the small: snuff bottles in the Qing Dynasty

　　At the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, the trend of snuffing from the West began to be introduced to China, and it was presented to the emperor in the form of diplomacy. It soon became popular with the emperor and dignitaries and the exquisite container used to hold snuff - the snuff box It also gradually incorporated oriental colors and became all the rage.

　　The brilliant colors of snuff bottles

　　By the Qing Dynasty, the snuff bottle could be described as "a collection of favorites among thousands of people". From the emperors and nobles to the wealthy merchants, down to the common people, snuff snuffing was very popular.

　　There are more than 20 snuff bottles with bronze sculptures of Yunlong made by Cheng Rongzhang of Shunzhi, which are the earliest snuff bottles.

　　Bronze Yunlong snuff bottle (Source: Yachang Art Network)

　　The three dynasties of Kangxi, Yongzong and Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty were the heyday of the development of snuff bottles. Princes, aristocrats, wealthy merchants and wealthy merchants played with and collected snuff bottles. Therefore, they collected precious materials and hired skilled craftsmen to design and make snuff bottles.

　　During the Kangxi period, snuff bottles became a category of arts and crafts and the only art category that spread from the imperial palace to the private sector. The essence of its craftsmanship lies in its wide selection of materials and multiple shapes, which fully reveals its uncanny craftsmanship. It uses jade, agate, ceramics, glass, metal, organic matter and other materials, basically covering the types of arts and crafts of the Qing Dynasty.

　　White jade, agate and material snuff bottles from the Qing Dynasty (Source: Yachang Art Network)

　　During the Jiaqing period, Chinese snuff bottles were spread overseas as the most precious gift for country-to-country exchanges and became famous far and wide.

　　British Museum snuff bottle exhibit

　　During the late Qing Dynasty, although the Qing Dynasty had begun to decline, with the decline of national power, most of the snuff bottles made by officials were made of porcelain or other materials, with fewer and fewer precious materials. However, at the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, snuff bottles with interior paintings suddenly emerged. The craftsmanship is superb and can be called a fine product. Literati and poets began to draw their own peach blossom world in this snuff bottle based on the impact of their political ideals.

　　With the development of snuff bottles to this day, they have almost ceased to be practical devices and have become works of art for people to play with and collect. This small form contains great knowledge and has become an encyclopedia for understanding the history of arts and crafts in the Qing Dynasty. It is deeply loved by collectors at home and abroad.

　　Zhou Leyuan's crystal snuff bottle with pictures of fishing and animal husbandry inside (left) Zhou Leyuan

　　The snuff bottle with the painting "Rich and Majestic, the King of Flowers" inside (right)

　　(Source: Taipei National Palace Museum official website)

　　Eastern and Western snuff bottles, PK or blend?

　　The small and exquisite snuff bottles (snuff boxes) are very exquisite and cute, but there may be little-known stories behind these small square inches, which not only show the state of arts and crafts at that time, but also the art of the time. inheritance and exchange.

　　Different cultural backgrounds have created handicrafts with very different styles. European snuff boxes and Chinese snuff bottles are the epitome of two civilizations, showing their own colorful cultural aesthetics and innovative craftsmanship.

　　Nowadays, the trend of snuff snuffing is almost extinct, but its containers have been passed down due to the vastly different materials, various craftsmanship, and precious historical and artistic values.

　　A Glittering World of Masterpieces Treasures from the Rosalinda and Arthur Gilbert Collection

　　Curator: Sun Yi

　　Exhibition period: September 26th - December 24th

　　Location: Exhibition Hall 1 of World Expo Museum

　　Ticket price: free