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Bottles with holes.

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Author Topic: Bottles with holes.  (Read 1279 times)
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seadancer1
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« on: August 03, 2014, 08:18:14 pm »
I have two small mother of pearl bottles, one of which seems to have holes for a cord. I have noticed that some bottles have cords also. How were these carried, and when were they popular? Do these type of bottles lose their value because of being corded?
Thanks guys, cheers Brenda
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Wattana
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« Reply #1 on: August 03, 2014, 09:27:59 pm »
Hi Brenda,

Chinese clothing during the Qing period did not have pockets. Snuff bottles were traditionally carried in the sleeve, or in a purse. The draw-strings of the purse could then be tied around the waist sash of the robe. Some snuff bottles had holes designed into them so as to suspend them from a cord, dispensing with the purse.

Having cords on a smaller bottle also would have made it easier to handle, and reduce the risk of it being dropped on the floor.

There are several well documented Imperial bottles designed with holes or shoulder rings to take a silk cord.

Tom   
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seadancer1
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« Reply #2 on: August 04, 2014, 04:12:03 am »
Thank you Tom.......so they were used before Chinese men started wearing Western clothes?
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Wattana
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« Reply #3 on: August 04, 2014, 04:32:50 am »
Hi Brenda,

I believe the appearance of Western clothes and the decline of snuff taking happened round about the same time, in the early 1900s, although I don't think they are directly related!

Tom
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seadancer1
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« Reply #4 on: August 04, 2014, 04:50:26 am »
Its a bit like netsuke then....they were used by the Japanese until they started wearing Western clothing.  Smiley
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Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司
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« Reply #5 on: August 04, 2014, 06:36:45 am »
Dear Brenda,
    Very much like netsuke, or like inro etc.
Joey
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Joey Silver (Si Zhouyi 義周司), collecting snuff bottles since Feb.1970
Wattana
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« Reply #6 on: August 05, 2014, 02:25:02 am »
Hi Brenda,

Here is a snuff bottle purse that came with one bottle I once purchased. It is well used, and may have once sported longer and fancier (i.e. silk) purse strings.

Tom

* SB-140 silk purse 01-lo.jpg (71.65 KB, 600x508 - viewed 26 times.)
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YT
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« Reply #7 on: August 05, 2014, 02:45:34 am »
Dear Brenda,

Another example except I lose the bid on this purse.
First time posting attachments so don't know how the pic will appear.

Cheers,
YT

* purse.jpg (24.85 KB, 640x480 - viewed 36 times.)
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YT
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« Reply #8 on: August 05, 2014, 02:54:54 am »
Purse snuff bottles that still have the original strings attached are very rare. Of my small collection, I have only 1 that has it. Materials are almost always hardstones.

Cheers,
YT
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Wattana
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« Reply #9 on: August 05, 2014, 03:19:22 am »
Hi YT,

That is a VERY nice jade bottle with integral cords, in the SHAPE of a purse. This is very much in the Chinese scholarly tradition of playing on a concept by substituting the expected for the unexpected....
Here the impervious and valuable jade is made to imitate the soft and vulnerable silk purse within which a jade bottle would normally be kept. 

Mine is "only" a real purse, which are quite commonly found.

Tom
« Last Edit: August 05, 2014, 03:22:29 am by Wattana » Report Spam   Logged
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YT
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« Reply #10 on: August 05, 2014, 05:03:43 am »
Hi Tom,

It is very nice. This design is from Ming Dynasty and dated 17th to early 18th century. I was quite upset for losing this bid.

Cheers,
YT
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Wattana
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« Reply #11 on: August 05, 2014, 05:27:10 am »
Hi YT,

I am upset for you just hearing you say that !

Tom
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YT
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« Reply #12 on: August 05, 2014, 05:45:33 am »
Thanks Tom  Wink
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Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司
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« Reply #13 on: August 05, 2014, 06:46:38 am »
Dear YT,
   A gorgeous example. I'm also saddened that you didn't get it. Which auction was it from?
Joey
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Joey Silver (Si Zhouyi 義周司), collecting snuff bottles since Feb.1970
seadancer1
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« Reply #14 on: August 05, 2014, 08:20:44 pm »
Wow....great bottle...really sorry you missed it YT.....the frustration of missing it really hurts, I know.
Cheers, Brenda
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Wattana
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« Reply #15 on: August 06, 2014, 10:51:16 pm »
Hi Brenda,

I think we are all waiting to see the mother-of-pearl bottle with cord holes that started this thread.  Cool

Tom
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« Reply #16 on: August 07, 2014, 04:04:32 am »
Dear Brenda,

I attach an example of bottle with holes from the Victoria & Albert Museum for your further reference.
There is also an accompany write-up of the origin of the jade used to make such a bottle ( there were two different jade bottles one of which has two holes )
Looking forward to see your post on your bottle as well.

Inn Bok

* IMG_6466.JPG (264.81 KB, 768x1024 - viewed 23 times.)

* IMG_6467.JPG (147.13 KB, 1024x552 - viewed 21 times.)

* IMG_6468.JPG (236.5 KB, 1024x633 - viewed 24 times.)
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seadancer1
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« Reply #17 on: August 07, 2014, 03:54:43 pm »
All such nice bottles Smiley
Tom here they are.

* mp12 005.jpg (294.33 KB, 570x600 - viewed 34 times.)

* 2snuff3_zps6f67038f.jpg (144.95 KB, 286x624 - viewed 27 times.)
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Wattana
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« Reply #18 on: August 07, 2014, 08:38:43 pm »
Thanks Brenda.

Interesting. It looks like the hole goes straight through the neck. Doesn't that clash with the cork of the stopper?  And if it's below the reach of the cork, near the top of the spoon shaft, then snuff powder would escape. Either way, it seems to be a strange place to locate the hole. Or am I completely misreading your pictures?

Attractive bottles anyway. Any idea what the core material of the bottles is? I'd guess wood.

Tom
« Last Edit: August 07, 2014, 09:30:01 pm by Wattana » Report Spam   Logged
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« Reply #19 on: August 07, 2014, 10:08:53 pm »
Dear Brenda,

Like Tom, I do find the location of the small holes a bit strange ( unconventional ? ).

Nevertheless, they are pieces of good handworks ( especially the one on the left ).

Inn Bok
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