http://www.adamsavenuedesign.com/antique-chinese/
Antique Chinese Snuff Bottles – Heavy Stones That Really Float!
When collecting Chinese antique snuff bottles, one can choose to collect glass, porcelain, bottles made from organic materials (such as amber or coral), or perhaps the inside painted bottles, but there is sure to be a time when one will decide to collect, or at least add some hardstone bottles.
Hardstone bottles can be found in a variety of materials such as jade, quartz, chalcedony, hair crystal, tourmaline and many more. There are some wonderful shapes and colours to be found and even some stone bottles have images, or pictures, formed from the natural inclusions found in the rock.
When studying auction catalogues one will now and then come across, within the description of antique stone bottles, the comment ‘well hollowed’ just as when discussing bottles with a dealer this term will also be used. When this comment is missed beware, as all good antique stone bottles should be ‘well hollowed’ and if they are not then suspect they are fakes!
Antique Chinese snuff bottles were made to be used and had to be well hollowed, to hold sufficient snuff, this raises the question how well hollowed is ‘well hollowed’? Most good antique bottles are considered well hollowed if the bottle will hold a good portion of snuff and does not feel too heavy. Remember, as a guide, they were often worn in the sleeve. But the most valuable finest stone snuff bottles are exceptionally hollowed out, so much so, that they often look like they have been blown (like glass). These are referred to as ‘eggshell thin’ or ‘floaters’ because although they were carved out of a rock they are so well hollowed, that they will float in water!
These stone bottles are examples of amazing skill, because all the hollowing out has been performed through a very small hole in the neck of the bottle. Even the areas we refer to as the shoulders of the bottle (these are most difficult areas to hollow out), have to be very thin, for the bottle to trap enough air to make it float.
There are some wonderful jade bottles that float, yet jade is one of the hardest stone to carve, not only is it an exceptionally hard material but it also has certain weaker points where it can easily fracture.
Having shown a couple of bottles (one well hollowed the other not) to lapidary workers, equipped with all the most modern cutting and drilling tools, to find out if they could change the poorly hollowed out bottle, into a well hollowed one and what it would cost. Not one would take on the task and the general view was, that even if they tried, the cost would be considerable, due to the time it would take them, but in addition no one would accept the risk involved, of possibly ruining the bottle in the process!
The explanation of how these antique stone bottles were originally carved and so well hollowed out, were all down to years of experience and the slow labour of love, where the carver did everything by hand without any thought about how much time it took.
About the Author
John N. Cohen A past director of Jacey Cinemas Ltd. Later the proprietor of a design & photographic studio, now a director of Jacey Homes Ltd., a property development company. Interests and Hobbies: A top international award winning photographer who also became a well known Asian antiques collector and an enthusiast of Jensen British classic cars. Other interests are skiing and Salsa dancing.
For John’s other interests please have a look at: - http://www.jncohen.net
The author has been a very keen collector for many years helping to create ‘The Cohen collection’.
See photographs by using the following link: -
http://www.jncohen.net/antiques/articles.htm
For more information about antique Chinese snuff bottles please use the following link: -
http://www.jncohen.net/Chinese_Snuff_bottles/index.htm
Different Types of Chinese Antiques
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A Set of Antique Chinese Export Porcelain Famille Rose Cup and Saucer $245.00 |
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ANTIQUE CHINESE EXPORT SOLID SILVER LUEN WO SHANGHAI DRAGON BOWL CHINA $1,998.00 |
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Antique Chinese Ginger Jar Painted With 4 Dragons Yellow Red Blue Green Ones $23.71 |
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ANTIQUE CHINESE EXPORT SILVER BOWL MADE BY CHONGWOO CHONG WOO CHINA HONGKONG $998.00 |
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ANTIQUE UK BRUNNER CHINA DUPLEX SILVER SIGNED POCKET WATCH CHINESE MARKET $2,850.00 |
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Antique hand painted wooden Chinese serving tray $7.89 |
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ANTIQUE CHINESE EXPORT SILVER APPLE FORM MELON SHAPED BOX TEA CADDY POT $1,750.00 |
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Antique Chinese Jade Pendant $225.00 |
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Framed Antique Chinese Needlework Purse and Pr Shoes $450.00 |
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ANTIQUE CHINESE ENAMEL GILT SILVER JEWELLRY BOX STONE EXPORT $1,450.00 |
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RARE-LARGE BEAUTIFUL ANTIQUE "CHINESE ROYAL FAMILY" BOWL/DISH-INCREDIBLE! $34.95 |
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VINTAGE ANTIQUE HAND PAINTED CHINESE VASE $56.00 |
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ANTIQUE CHINESE PORCELAIN CUP BOWL GILT BRONZE MOUNTED FRENCE EXPORT 19th C. $1,450.00 |
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Antique Qing Dynasty 19th Century Chinese Trade Painting on Rice Paper Framed $55.00 |
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Lovely Antique Vintage Large Chinese Enamel Dragon Pendant $235.52 |
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ANTIQUE-CHINESE QING DYNASTY SUPERB POTTERY, SILVER OVERLAY TEA SET FOR 2 SIGNED $997.99 |
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Antique Chinese Needlework Purse Framed $325.00 |
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Beautiful Antique Early Ashworth Bros 'Chinese' Serving Platter 1861 $31.60 |
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ANTIQUE DECO INLAID IVORY ROSEWOOD COLOR BOX CHINESE ASIAN LAQUERED 0011010 $39.99 |
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Doctor Antique Chinese Incense Burner Novelty Diploma $9.95 |
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PAIR OF ANTIQUE CHINESE RITUAL ANTLERS OF SILVER STAIN CHINA DRAGON 1800s TRIPOD $245.00 |
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2 PIECES OF GREAT CHINESE PORCELAIN ANTIQUE ITEMS OLD JAPANESE SAKE CUP GIFT ! $99.99 |
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Elegant 19th Century Antique Chinese Export Silver Teapot 264 Grams $1,990.00 |
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Antique Vtg 1942 Gumps Pure JADE 11 Tea Cups Saucers Dragon Spoons Set Chinese $379.00 |
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FINE ANTIQUE LARGE CHINESE DECORATED CELADON VASES ON CARVED ORIGINAL BASES $2,127.56 |
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Wonderful Antique 19th Century Chinese Bronze Incense Burner Rare Design $2,690.00 |
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Antique Chinese Mud Figurine $69.00 |
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Antique Asian (believed Chinese) Wooden box $7.89 |
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ANTIQUE Chinese ASIAN VASE FOUR DRAGON BLUE RED PORCELAIN $149.99 |
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ANTIQUE-FRENCH OLD PARIS CHINOISERIE,CHINESE VASE 23" H $1,999.99 |
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Chinese Antique Lacquer Prayer Table Cabinet WK1333 $980.00 |
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Wonderful Large Antique Hand-Painted Chinese Emperor & Empress on Silk Mint Cond $4,490.00 |
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Antique Chinese Carved Hardwood Stand for Vase/Bowl $2.59 |
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Great Pair of Antique 19th Century Chinese Wood Carved Panels Top Quality $3,490.00 |
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antique Chinese watercolor painting signed sealed Bamboo 9.5"x12.5" perfect $150.00 |
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antique Chinese porcelain dish Jiaqing mark period $25.00 |
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antique Chinese porcelain bowl blue ground qianlong seal mark painted butterfly $26.00 |
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Antique Chinese porcelain teapot 18thC Qianlong superb decoration 11.5" $29.00 |
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Antique Chinese porcelain blue ground dragon bowl Tonzhi mark 19thC SUPERB $81.00 |
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antique Chinese watercolor painting signed sealed Bamboo 9.5"x12.5" perfect $150.00 |
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antique Chinese hand painted porcelain relief decorated bowl Ming Chenhua mark $202.50 |
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PRE-1968 HAND-CARVED ANTIQUE CHINESE CHINOISERIE ROOM DIVIDER IMPORTED CHINA $1,850.00 |
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Doctor Antique Chinese Bracelet Appreciation Diploma $9.95 |
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ANTIQUE CHINESE OPERA PUPPET-----MARIONETTE-----DOLL $49.99 |
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Antique Cizhou Style Asian Chinese Hand Painted Ceramic Glazed Cat w/ Wax Seal $74.99 |
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p020 Antique Chinese Dynasty Solid Bronze Foo Dog Lion Incense Burner Holder $395.00 |
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ANTIQUE CHINESE PAINTINGS ON SILK SIGNED LOOK !! $399.99 |
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ANTIQUE CHINESE PLATE CUP LOT RICE PATTERN $74.00 |
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ANTIQUE / VINTAGE CHINESE URN / VASE $599.99 |
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ESTATE ANTIQUE Chinese ASIAN CELADON PORCELAIN VASE SIGNED WAX SEAL $99.99 |
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Antique Exquisite Japanese Chinese mixed metals Box birds flowers decoration $285.00 |
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ANTIQUE HANDPAINTED CHINESE VASE STAMPED SEAL ON BOTTOM $17.38 |
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Antique Primitive Chinese Willow Food Basket Collect It $249.99 |
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Antique Chinese Majolica Vase or Planter with Hand Painted Man Figure--UNIQUE! $19.99 |
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Chinese Antique Reproduction Red Lacquered TV Cabinet/Armoire 12LP15 $797.30 |
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Antique Chinese Blue & White Porcelain Bowl $120.00 |
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Lacquered Boxes book Antique Porcelain Chinese Trinket $69.95 |
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Antique Art Deco Chinese Rug! Aprx 9'x12' Chinese Symbols and Beautiful Colors!! $949.99 |
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Chinese Antiques Qing Dynasty blue and white Pot $299.00 |
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19TH CENTURY ANTIQUE CHINESE CARVED ROOT IMMORTAL $2,608.16 |
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19TH CENTURY ANTIQUE CARVED CHINESE OCCASIONAL TABLE $3,082.37 |
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VINTAGE ANTIQUE 1923 MAH-JONGG THE FASCINATING CHINESE GAME BOOK MAH-JONG $39.99 |
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Antique CHINESE Asian Embroidered SILK JACKET Coat Rabbit Fur Collar Front 1920s $29.95 |
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Antique CHINESE VERMEIL OVER SILVER FILIGREE CARVED CINNABAR EARRINGS/DRESS CLIP $59.99 |
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Rare Chinese Antique Watercolor Certified 1870 Qing dynasty $195.00 |
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Large Antique Chinese Bowl Floral Scalloped Edge 1800's $175.00 |
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ANTIQUE CHINESE FLANGE TOP 2 DOOR ORANGE LACQUER COFFER BUFFET CABINET CHEST $695.00 |
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ANTIQUE CHINESE 51" WIDE TALL RED LACQUER ARMOIRE 2 DOOR WARDROBE CABINET CHEST $1,695.00 |
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NEW Antique Silver Metal Adjustable Chinese Zodiac Bracelet Charm SZ176 $2.99 |
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antique CHINESE ASIAN CARVED JADE necklace with DRAGON PENDANT $299.99 |
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Antique Chinese Skull Cap Hat $19.99 |
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ANTIQUE CHINESE SERPENTINE HARDSTONE JADE VASE PHOENIX DESIGN $350.00 |
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Antique Chinese Export Lacquered Gilt Lap Desk Circa 1830 $1,250.00 |
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ANTIQUE CHINESE SILVER NECKLACE PANDANT CHINA FOLK ART JEWELRY STONE $225.00 |
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CHINESE ANTIQUE PORCELAIN JARDINIERE FISH BOWL $100.00 |
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Wonderful Antique Chinese YIXING Pottery Teapot $0.14 |
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Wonderful Antique Chinese YIXING Pottery Swan Teapot★★ $0.14 |
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ANTIQUE CARVED CHINESE WEDDING BED CEREMONIAL ROSEWOOD BONE INLAID RARE ITEM NR* $5,000.00 |
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RARE ANTIQUE CHINESE CH'ING DYNASTY PORCELAIN TEAPOT HALLMARKED EXCL. COND. $62.10 |
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Rare Antique Chinese Dynasty Figurine Li Bai Xi Shi Tea Pot 19th century SIGNED $199.95 |
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ANTIQUE 19th CHINESE INK STICK IN DISPLAY CASE CALLIGRAPHY INSCRIBED 2 RED SEALS $169.50 |
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Antique C 1910 Chinese Carved Painted Ox Bone Beads Necklace Bird, Flower Motifs $165.00 |
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Antique Chinese Chest Pigskin Carved Trunk Red Leather Lacquer 19th Century $900.00 |
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ANTIQUE 14K GOLD CHINESE JADE RING SIZE 7 $595.00 |
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Antique Chinese Green Stone Cabochons Bracelet $399.00 |
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Antique 1780 Chinese Imari Plate Blue Pink Octagonal $24.99 |
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ANTIQUE CHINESE ENAMEL AMULET TWO $40.00 |
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VINTAGE Antique Chinese Mud Pottery2 MAN PLAYING CHESS $145.99 |
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ANTIQUE CHINESE MUDMAN PLANTER, EARLY 20TH CENTURY NO MISSING PIECES $49.95 |
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Antique Chinese "Mandarin Sleeve"- Silk with Embroidery Panel $99.95 |
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VINTAGE Antique Chinese Mud Pottery MAN PLAYING $45.99 |
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PAIR ANTIQUE CHINESE CLOISONNE ENAMEL VASES, c. 1900 $249.99 |
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RARE 19thC ANTIQUE CHINESE EXPORT HAND PAINTED GILTED ENAMEL PORCELAIN INKWELL $399.00 |
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Chinese Antique Beijing Wood Stool Side Table MAR12-15 $480.00 |
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Antique Circa-1900 Chinese Gold Gilt Brass & Enamel Hanging Mirror & Lock *NR* $520.00 |
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2 Metal Chinese Antique Frame ART GOLD Wall Hangers G1 $13.99 |
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Exquisite Chinese Antique Peking Glass SNUFF BOTTLE $65.00 |
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ANTIQUE CHINESE BONE? CARVED HAIR PIC WOODEN $15.00 |
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ANTIQUE CHINESE BOWL RED MARK FLORALS $28.00 |
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Antique - 19th C. Chinese Hand Engraving / Enamel, Mini Brass Plate $65.00 |
