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Snuff Dishes

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George
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« Reply #40 on: February 04, 2015, 01:17:44 am »

Happy to be corrected Pat !  Yes, I do see the examples within Stevens book, and yes the relative size does seem to indicate so. 

Thought I remembered Joey telling anything over about 1 3/4 would not be a snuff dish.. Could be mistaken Joey, so apologies if I remembered wrong..

There have been many times when I saw dishes over 1 3/4 online, but let them go by thinking they were to large.. 

Thanks again..

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« Reply #41 on: February 04, 2015, 03:07:46 am »

Were dishes made with raised bases like this ?


* dish2.JPG (72.17 KB, 566x456 - viewed 23 times.)

* dish1.JPG (90.42 KB, 560x530 - viewed 21 times.)
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« Reply #42 on: February 04, 2015, 03:17:01 am »

There were all kinds of shapes, and types of 'feet', and basically I feel anything from say 1-2.5 inches in size could fit the bill in those days, whether explicitly made for snuff use or not, is hard to figure out, in my view...
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« Reply #43 on: February 04, 2015, 03:28:09 am »

Dear Richard,

All your snuff dishes are very nice. Do you match them with bottles and spoons?

Cheers,
YT
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« Reply #44 on: February 04, 2015, 05:04:07 am »

Dear George & Pat,
    I may well have said maximum 1.75 inches, but I would accept Pat's statement, that 1 - 2.5 inches
(or  25 - 63 mm) is a valid size range for snuff dishes/saucers.

Best,
  Joey
   
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« Reply #45 on: February 04, 2015, 11:56:21 am »

Dear George and Pat,

Thank you for the information on snuff dishes.

I checked out the sizes with a ruler, wouldn't 2 inches+ be a little too bulky and add unnecessary weight? (To put in sleeves, belt pouches, and boots?)

It seems 1.5 or less is a very nice/compact size to stack it on the side of a bottle and put away.

One thing to keep in mind is that Chinese people are quite small compared to other races (even now). Especially when you consider that timeframe and our diet then (very little meat, egg,...). So, a "tiny" unmanageable dish for an average American with large hands (relative to Asian) might be just right for someone around 5 1/2 feet and 150 pounds.

Everytime when I shook hand with a larger Caucasian, Latino, or African American...  Cheesy my hand looks like a kid's hand in an adults!

Warmly,
David
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« Reply #46 on: February 04, 2015, 02:41:09 pm »

Dear David,
   Snuff dishes were ONLY for use in a home, studio, etc. They were never used in a travel situation; that was what the snuff bottle was for. Snuff would be served at a meal, or while playing Weiqi, or drinking tea, but in a set location (one's home, studio, a friend's home or studio, etc.)
Hope this clears up the misunderstanding.
Best,
 Joey



Dear George and Pat,

Thank you for the information on snuff dishes.

I checked out the sizes with a ruler, wouldn't 2 inches+ be a little too bulky and add unnecessary weight? (To put in sleeves, belt pouches, and boots?)

It seems 1.5 or less is a very nice/compact size to stack it on the side of a bottle and put away.

One thing to keep in mind is that Chinese people are quite small compared to other races (even now). Especially when you consider that timeframe and our diet then (very little meat, egg,...). So, a "tiny" unmanageable dish for an average American with large hands (relative to Asian) might be just right for someone around 5 1/2 feet and 150 pounds.

Everytime when I shook hand with a larger Caucasian, Latino, or African American...  Cheesy my hand looks like a kid's hand in an adults!

Warmly,
David
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« Reply #47 on: February 04, 2015, 08:35:09 pm »

Dear All,

I have been enjoying this discussion and the comments it has generated. Joey is right about snuff dishes not being carried about. David also makes a valid point about relative size of Chinese people vs. objects for handling. I think Joey mentioned somewhere that the Qianlong emperor was quite 'petite' even by Chinese standards, and was known to have a preference for smaller snuff bottles which better fitted his hand.

Pat raised an important point too. We are assuming these small dishes were all made for snuff, because we are only seeing them in that context. In fact, they had a multitude of uses, for mixing together ingredients to make a medicinal paste, ladies' cosmetics, etc.

Finally, thank you Richard for starting this thread in the first place!

Tom
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« Reply #48 on: February 04, 2015, 09:18:34 pm »

Hi All

Thanks for all your feedback and comments!

As mentioned by Joey, these dishes are normally used indoor as serving utensils for the guest and not to be carried around in sleeves like snuff bottles.

As you noticed, most of the dishes do have a raised base but usually quite shallow unlike the one posted by George which seem quite high in proportion to the dish.

YT, no. Unfortunately I do not have bottles to match those snuff dishes.

Here is a circular spinach jade snuff dish, the stone of even dark green colour with a raised base. Diameter: 54 mm.
19th century. Provenance: Bob Stevens, Eric Young

Illustrated in The Collector's Book of Snuff Bottles by Bob Stevens number 84.


Enjoy!


Richard





* 371.jpg (45.63 KB, 540x405 - viewed 34 times.)

* 371a.jpg (47.66 KB, 540x405 - viewed 26 times.)
« Last Edit: February 04, 2015, 09:21:13 pm by richy88 » Report Spam   Logged

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« Reply #49 on: February 04, 2015, 09:54:32 pm »

Hi Richard,

I can't keep up with you. Each new post of yours has a dish which surpasses the favourite of the ones I have seen already. THIS dark green one is simply stunning in its simplicity and elegance......... pure 'shibui'** !!!

Now all you have to do is find a bottle to match it.  Grin

All best,
Tom

[** Shibui (渋い) a Japanese word which refers to a particular aesthetic of simple, subtle, and unobtrusive beauty.]
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« Reply #50 on: February 04, 2015, 10:09:16 pm »

Dear Joey, Tom and Richard,

Now I understand!

Thank you all for the knowledge on snuff dishes, I did not know it was only for indoor use.  Grin Silly me, I was trying to visualize juggling the snuff dish, the snuff bottle and the top/spoon, thinking that they must had practiced really hard to be able to do this standing up without spilling.

The last dish has a very even color, must be a beautiful sight in physical color.

Gratefully,
David


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« Reply #51 on: February 05, 2015, 04:21:37 am »

Hi All

After many of you suggested that I match the snuff dish with a bottle, I managed to find the following match:

1. a lavender jade bottle with the lavender jade snuff dish
2. a spinach greed jade bottle with the spinach green jade snuff dish

I will try to find a match for the other snuff dishes.

Enjoy!


Richard


* smt19.JPG (202.91 KB, 540x720 - viewed 27 times.)

* 369.jpg (48.32 KB, 540x405 - viewed 26 times.)

* sm076a.JPG (201.9 KB, 540x720 - viewed 26 times.)

* 371.jpg (45.63 KB, 540x405 - viewed 19 times.)
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« Reply #52 on: February 05, 2015, 05:35:48 am »

Dear Tom,
     You took the words right out of my mouth! This is also my favourite so far, replacing earlier 'favourite so far' examples!  Wink
     And you are 100% correct; there were a myriad of uses for such small dishes/saucers. We are biased by our interest in snuff bottles and assorted paraphernalia.
    As a wise man once said," To a man with a hammer, every problem looks like a nail".  Roll Eyes
Best,
 Joey





Hi Richard,

I can't keep up with you. Each new post of yours has a dish which surpasses the favourite of the ones I have seen already. THIS dark green one is simply stunning in its simplicity and elegance......... pure 'shibui'** !!!

Now all you have to do is find a bottle to match it.  Grin

All best,
Tom

[** Shibui (渋い) a Japanese word which refers to a particular aesthetic of simple, subtle, and unobtrusive beauty.]
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« Reply #53 on: February 05, 2015, 05:37:26 am »


Dear Richard,
    Thank you for posting this wonderful example (the spinach green jade), my 'new'  favourite.
Best,
  Joey
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« Reply #54 on: February 05, 2015, 08:52:04 pm »


    As a wise man once said," To a man with a hammer, every problem looks like a nail".  Roll Eyes


Dear Joey,

I'll have to remember that one!  Wink

Tom
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« Reply #55 on: February 05, 2015, 09:11:37 pm »

Thanks Richard for sharing the wonderful snuff dish........ All are my favors ........ hahaha  Grin

Thanks for taking time to pair up the bottle and the dish too..... wonderful pictures....

Pin
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« Reply #56 on: February 05, 2015, 09:36:47 pm »


I will try to find a match for the other snuff dishes.


Hi Richard,

Great matches! Looking forward to seeing more....  Smiley

Tom
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« Reply #57 on: February 05, 2015, 11:03:21 pm »

Richard,

Sharing matching pieces is a great idea.  Might be a good idea if you would like to start off your own separate topic dedicated to them..
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« Reply #58 on: February 05, 2015, 11:19:48 pm »

Dear Richard,

I think the spinach Jade pair is the most interesting.
Both comes with simple design, good for pairing.

Cheers,
YT
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« Reply #59 on: February 05, 2015, 11:23:37 pm »

Hello Richard,

The green is an amazing pair. Thank you for post them.

Kind Regards,
David
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