Greetings from a Snuff-User

[Ludwig-1954]

Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Allow me to introduce myself to this most interesting forum.
I am called Ludwig and was born in 1954. My first encounter
With snuff bottles (Chinese, Porcelain) was in 1969, the year
I actually started to use snuff. I just needed a stylish container to match
My then long hair and rebellious attitude.
I have used snuff ever since, employing various snuff boxes and
Bottles over the years. As a theoretical mathematician, I find the stuff
Keeps my brain clear ...
My interest in snuff bottles was kept alive during my extensive travels
To central asia, China and of course, Mongolia. Snuff is a good introduction
To many people in that area and a very welcome gift.
In fact, the exchange of snuff bottles is part of the greeting ritual in
Mongolia, and not only on Tsagaan Sar ...
My interest is in the cultural use of snuff in Central and Eastern Asia and
Snuff containers in use today.
So you could consider me one of the Dinosaurs mentioned in the thread
About Mongolian Snuff bottles. Come to think of it, perhaps I should
Change my Username ... Jurassic Snuffer might be adequate.
Please pardon my ramblings, enough for today, with your permission I shall
Now retire with a nice brandy and a pinch or two
From Switzerland
Patrick B. Ludwig

[Fiveroosters aka clayandbrush]

Dear Ludwig,
welcome from Italy. I did really enjoy reading your introduction. Well done!
Giovanni
PS: BTW I don't sniff, I just collect snuff bottles and Chinese ceramics.

[George]

Hello and welcome aboard Patrick !

Wonderful introduction indeed.. Enjoyed it very much..

Glad you found us and look forward to talking more with you on forum ..

[YT]

Dear Patrick,

Welcome to the forum. I am another non-sniffer although I would have love to be in the era of 1969 as a collector.

Cheers,
YT

[richy88]

Welcome to the forum, Patrick!

[Steven]

Welcome to the Forum Patrick,

I am glad that we have one REAL snuff taker join us, I believe you are the first one If I am mot wrong.

It would be interesting to see the comments from a snuffer.

Steven

[George]

Could be interesting and fun to have an area within the forum to share experiences of enjoying snuff..

Something like, " The Snuff Connoisseurs" 

Kinds of mixtures/ingredients , flavors, rituals, technique, and so on...

[Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司]

Dear Patrick,
    Welcome from me as well.
Your introduction message was very amusing, as noted by the others.
    I also take (and share) snuff, but usually only in Synagogue, since those addicted to nicotine who are Orthodox Jews can not light cigarettes, etc., on Sabbath or Holy Days. So, I personally don't really take snuff regularly, Except on Sabbaths and Holy Days ! 
    When we take snuff, we hold the bottle between thumb and forefinger on its side with the neck slightly angled upward; then, with the other hand, we scoop out a small amount of snuff, and deposit it by dumping the snuff from the spoon onto the triangular area between the thumb and forefinger, called the 'anatomical snuff box' by doctors (as I understand). We then return the stopper to the bottle, and pass it back or put it away, being careful not to spill the snuff.
    I don't like to use the snuff boxes I have; it is so unhygienic when people put their fingers into the snuff to take a pinch! And people like my snuff bottles as a rule, though I had one schmuck who complained about the carved qilin dragon design on an overlay, when I brought it to 'Shul' (as we call Synagogues usually). Today i use plain bottles, whether glass, stone or ivory. Although, when I used an underglazed Blue and White porcelain snuff bottle with a stylised floral pattern (of 'Indian Lotus' design), I got a lot of positive reactions as well. Indeed, it is also one of my personal favourite subjects in B & W, along with dragons and landscapes.
   
   Patrick,  I'm sure we are all eager to hear about and see your treasures. I hope you will post them. 
Best Wishes,
  Shabbat Shalom,
       Joey
   

[Wattana]

Patrick,

Welcome from me too. I was most interested to hear of your experience of the use of snuff in Mongolia. I believe I was responsible for starting the thread you refer to. As a collector of the bottles for many years, it was indeed a revelation to discover this ritual exchange still being practiced there. It really was like stumbling across a lost land of dinosaurs.   

Tom

[joearp]

Welcome from North Carolina,USA. We are delighted to have you  and look forward to seeing some of your treasures.
I live on a tobacco farm and the company that leases our land says it produces some of the finest tobacco to be found today. I do not use snuff but enjoy looking at beautiful snuff bottles.

[OIB]

Patrick,

Welcome from Singapore !

Inn Bok

[Pat - 查尚杰]

Patrick

A warm (literally) welcome from Bangkok!

[David]

Hello Patrick,

I am David Ma, currently living in California, USA. I grew up in Taiwan, and was an electrical engineer in design for testability in the past. A complete beginner in snuff bottle collecting and just started to build up my knowledge in this area. I tend to let my imagination run and occasionally goes off into my own world. So, when you see the number of posts under my name, please keep in mind that they are not too technical.

What is the component of your snuff (if I may ask)? Is it the kind that do not have tobacco? Does it also increase your alertness and physical reaction?

Best Regards,
David

[Wattana]

I read somewhere that the Brazilians are suppose to have produced the best and most sought after snuffs during the 18th and 19th century, and possibly still do.

They also produced a type of snuff called "schmalzler". Can anyone throw some light on this? (maybe Patrick in Switzerland knows?)

Tom

[YT]

Dear Tom,

Patrick went MIA 1 day after he posted since late Nov. 

Cheers,
YT

[Pat - 查尚杰]

Too much snuff - heaven I suppose...

[Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司]

Dear Pat,
     You should have used an icon (like  ,    or even    )  !   
Best,
   From Joey, back in Jerusalem (Thank G-D)   

Too much snuff - heaven I suppose...

[George]

Patrick went MIA 1 day after he posted since late Nov. 

Yes, I also wondered what happened to him..

[Wattana]

Yes, as a snuff user I thought that Patrick might add a new and valuable perspective to some of our discussions.

[Ludwig-1954]

Dear Friends,

Reporting back to duty, was knocked out due to a nasty infection. Now, let me see if
I can answer some of the accumulated Questions:

Schmalzler. A German type of snuff, mostly from Bavaria. Typically not scented at all or with a natural fruit 'sauce'' and made from black Brasil Tobacco (lots of nicotine).
It is a coarse and moist snuff, often taken in a ritualised setting - including competitions as to
who can stuff more snuff into their noses within a given amount of time. A bit like US Food
contests (Oktoberfest etc.)
The word "Schmalzler" derives from "Schmalz", a Ghee-like animal fat produced by boiling. This grease was used to keep the tobacco moist, but tended to go rancid after a short time.
Schmalzler is now made with mineral fats to prevent this.

Dear Joey, yes, nowadays you can take a Schmalzler (Schmai) to Shul, in Europe the practice was quite common, as it does not break the Yomm Kippur fast. Differences exist as whether a Broche must be spoken and - if yes - which. Besamim, perhaps? Quite a few Chassidic stories deal with snuff too, not to speak of the famous painting by Chagall.
On the side, David Ben Gurion and his Wife had an important collection of snuff boxes, recently sold on Ebay. I do not know, whether the Ben Gurions partook or not.

Rapee: A very early form of snuff. Snuff was sold as a cigar like twist of tobacco, the size of a carrot, often but not exclusively from Brasil. You would produce your daily ration by rubbing the Twist on a device similar to a nutmeg grater. Originals are quite sought after antiques.
Hence the word Rapee, grated.
Rapee is very close to the original forms of tobacco use in Meso America. The twists were smoked as well as snuffed by the indigenous People, often in Shamanic Ritual. Yes, Tobacco is
considered Holy by many ...

Dear Mr Ma, you ask about my own snuff preferences. Entirely tobacco based, of course, the
White powders you are perhaps referring to are either illegal or for children. I prefer floral
scents but will not turn down a rough Kashubian snuff from Poland.

Best regards from snuff heaven
Patrick B. Ludwig