Introduction to Mongolian Snuff Bottles and its Culture

[rpfstoneman]

Obviously, I have been spending way too much time on the computer this weekend scouring the web for information on Chinese snuff bottles.  In doing so I came across these two informative video links that discuss Mongolian snuff bottles and its social use.  The collecting of Mongolian snuff bottles is another avenue to enjoy in this collecting hobby.   

Link:

Link:

Enjoy, Charll

[Fiveroosters aka clayandbrush]

Very interesting dear Charll.
I found also interesting this link:
https://garlandmag.com/loop/snuff-bottle/
It would be very good to have a way of contacting some of the Mongolian snuff bottles makers. I have three stones that I would like to transfom into bottles if it were possible, but who knows if possible and how expensive it could be.
Kind regards
Giovanni

[George]

Thank you Charll, enjoyed these very much 

[Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司]

Dear Charll,

     Very interesting, but did you notice that NONE of the Mongolian 'snuff-takers' took it correctly?
One does not sniff the bottle or the spoon.
With the spoon, one puts a bit of snuff on the 'anatomical snuffbox', between the thumb and the first finger.
And then one sniffs or breathes it in to the nose, from there.
One would think they could at least get real snuff takers to demonstrate...
Best,
Joey

[snuffmke]

     Very interesting, but did you notice that NONE of the Mongolian 'snuff-takers' took it correctly?
One does not sniff the bottle or the spoon.
With the spoon, one puts a bit of snuff on the 'anatomical snuffbox', between the thumb and the first finger.
And then one sniffs or breathes it in to the nose, from there.

Joey,

I was wondering about that.

I'm curious why the Mongolian snuff bottles all seem to have those really long/tall stoppers. I've always thought it looks a bit goofy. But then it hit me today that it would make for a lot easier handling if one hand gloves on. Hmmm.

Brian

[rpfstoneman]

But then it hit me today that it would make for a lot easier handling if one hand gloves on.

Exactly!!!!  And culturally look at the size of the fingers that many of the men have.  I would appreciate the larger stopper size in either event. 

Charll

[Ogleforth]

Thank you Charll for posting these interesting videos! I guess big fingers means big stoppers. I particularly liked the embroidered snuff bottle bags. That's some seriously time consuming work as they double back into each stitch making progress very slow.

In 2014, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival focused on China and Kenya. It's held just down the road from me in Washington DC. There was a throat singing band from Mongolia performing who played traditional instruments but with a more contemporary rhythm like the background music on the videos you posted. It was quite a treat to see/hear them perform in person.

Cheers,

Stacey

[richy88]

Thanks Charll and Giovanni for sharing!



Here is another video on the Chinese arts at Minneapolis Institute of Arts, including snuff bottles. However, even the 'expert' also made mistake by describing an inside-painted glass overlay bottle as a natural stone bottle!