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Chinese Snuff Bottle Discussion Forum 中國鼻煙壺討論論壇
April 18, 2024, 09:05:43 pm
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Screw top containers

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George
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« on: July 03, 2012, 02:00:53 am »
Does the screw type top eliminate a container like this from having been originally used for snuff ?

2" long..

Unknown metal..

I'm guessing it was meant to have been a scent bottle..





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« Reply #1 on: July 03, 2012, 02:03:11 am »
Absolutely yes to 'scent' container, in my view.  There was no way to keep the humidity out and away from snuff except for corks. 
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Wattana
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« Reply #2 on: July 11, 2012, 10:29:11 am »
It could well have been a scent bottle, but I have to disagree with Pat's logic.

Firstly, if scent is in liquid form, the stopper of the bottle would need to be just as 'airtight' as for snuff, so one must assume that the example illustrated has a well-fitting screw cap. Both scent and snuff share that requirement!

Secondly, there is a series of Imperial snuff bottles (mostly jade), that have a matching stopper which screws on. So there is definitely evidence that screw caps were used on some snuff bottles.

From the photo it appears that the cap is hollow inside, which means that some of the scent (or snuff) would have ended up inside the dome of the cap. A bit messy and impractical, in either case. My guess is that the cap at one time had a cork liner / filler piece to prevent this happening.

There may have been another use for this bottle. I see it has a small eye-loop, which together with its rounded base tells me the bottle was meant to be suspended, like a traveler's flask. I can't tell if there was ever another loop on the opposite side. Either way, it reminds me of a  bottle I once bought in Thailand, which was similar in form but made of wood. I naturally thought it was a snuff bottle, but was told it was an old gunpowder flask, which hung from a game-hunter's belt. Musket rifles were still being used by huntsmen in Thailand until the early 20th C., and I assume the same would be true in China.

Tom   
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Joey Silver / Si Zhouyi 義周司
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« Reply #3 on: July 11, 2012, 06:12:04 pm »
One can see that there was a ring on the opposite shoulder, but now missing. I agree with Tom - it could have been a snuff bottle. I had a metal one with a screw top and a spoon set into the top. Late, however (ca. 1860 - 1940).
Joey
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Joey Silver (Si Zhouyi 義周司), collecting snuff bottles since Feb.1970
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« Reply #4 on: July 11, 2012, 08:34:13 pm »
Tom, thanks for the additional input and clarification.  Never thought of that... I guess that's why we are here.
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« Reply #5 on: July 12, 2012, 05:04:49 pm »
The truth is, Pat, the more I look at it, the more I'm not sure whether it was a snuff bottle or a scent bottle. Or whether it was one and then converted to be the other.
Joey
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« Reply #6 on: July 12, 2012, 06:25:10 pm »
Quote from: Wattana on July 11, 2012, 10:29:11 am
. I can't tell if there was ever another loop on the opposite side.

I asked the seller, and yes., there was and it is apparently broken off..
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Steven
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« Reply #7 on: July 12, 2012, 06:42:37 pm »
I will vote for a scent bottle, and not chinese stuff....
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Wattana
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« Reply #8 on: July 12, 2012, 09:56:23 pm »
I agree that scent was probably the original intention, but it makes for a good snuff flask too, so why not use it as one? To quote an old Chinese saying, "One spoon fits all." 

And, to throw a spanner in the works, here is a photo of my Thai gunpowder flask. (Hope I can manage to attach the image - my first attempt.)

Tom

* powder flask 01.jpg (40.68 KB, 544x626 - viewed 14 times.)
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« Reply #9 on: July 12, 2012, 10:10:30 pm »
Quote from: Wattana on July 12, 2012, 09:56:23 pm
I agree that scent was probably the original intention, but it makes for a good snuff flask too, so why not use it as one? To quote an old Chinese saying, "One spoon fits all." 



If the other loop was still on there, I would be really tempted to purchase it for the 50.00 asking price..  I really like it, and agree that it would make a real nice snuff container for personal use..
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« Reply #10 on: September 03, 2013, 01:06:34 pm »
This screw top bottle is one of a small group of bottles just received..

Just to share  Smiley
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« Reply #11 on: September 03, 2013, 01:39:31 pm »
It looks really good George!

I like the detail of the bottle.
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« Reply #12 on: September 03, 2013, 04:06:05 pm »
George,

I suspect a silver bottle?  This one has it all, enameling, stone embellishments/inlays, metal bead work.  Interesting?  Hope to see more of it, as well as the bottom, when you get the chance.

Charll
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Charll K Stoneman, Eureka, California USA, Collector Since 1979.
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« Reply #13 on: September 03, 2013, 09:08:55 pm »
George,

Ditto Charll's* comments. I look forward to seeing more photos of it.

[note* - 'ditto' is the UK equivalent of 'copy that' in the US  Wink]
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« Reply #14 on: September 03, 2013, 09:28:21 pm »
I just wish it was a little larger.. It is under 2" tall..

Not keeping it, so easiest to see more pics on the eBay listing..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251332480247?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
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