Chinese Snuff Bottle Discussion Forum 中國鼻煙壺討論論壇

Hi Everyone,

As with most collectors, over the years I have compiled notes on various topics related to snuff bottles, both directly and indirectly. I have decided to share some of my personal jottings here, in the hope that they may encourage others to do the same.

I'd like to start this thread with a post on the subject of STOPPERS. The selection of the right stopper for a bottle is a highly individual and personal thing for snuff bottle collectors. So I am not expecting everyone to agree with my tastes. It's meant as 'food for thought' - no more.

The blue scan is taken directly from my original notebook. As it's probably difficult to read, I have expanded it into a two-page PDF file that can be downloaded.

One thing I discovered while researching this topic is that the standard cork 'bung' that we see on most snuff bottle stoppers nowadays did not exist across most of China 150 years ago. Open the PDF document to find out more.

Tom

PS: I should clarify my comment about cork. It was used since ancient times on amphora and other large jars. But this practice was largely confined to the Mediterranean region. Even there it was used with a coating of pitch or leather to obtain a good seal.

Dear Tom,
very well made, thank you for sharing it.
I have a superb stopper of the type "C" seen in the second page of your work. Probably my best stopper.
I will post it together with the bottle it come with.
Kind regards
Giovanni

Nicely done, Tom!

Thanks!



Richard

Very nice Tom !

Thank you for sharing your notes with us and am very much looking forward to reading more :)

Dear Tom,

    I've a request: Please send me the 2 page PDF to my personal email, so I can print it out.
Incidentally, you talk about drilling stoppers to inset the spoon.

But that was not needed in the case of many if not most stoppers.
They were made of Mandarin beads cut in half across the drilled cord hole.
Thus the half-beads each had an already drilled hole in which to set the stem of the spoon.
But then there was a tiny hole in the stopper's top.
So a little bead finial was glued into the hole, and the famous [or infamous] Imperial 'nipple' stopper was born...
Best,
Joey

Dear Joey,

You are indeed correct about half beads and the Imperial 'nipple'. That is what Giovanni was referring to as type "C".
Long live the Imperial nipple!  ;D
But there are old examples where the spoon is inserted into a hole drilled in the 'collar' part of the stopper and part way into a flat-based cabochon.

Best,
Tom
PS: I have sent you an email with the PDF file.

Tom,

Was able to download and review the PDF.  Nice artwork and illustrating!  I appreciate you passing along your effort and thoughts on this subject.

Charll

Hi All,

Thanks for your positive comments. The original notes were scribbled in 2003. I thought it was time they were shared with others.  :)

Tom

Thanks very much for sharing Tom. Very interesting!

Luke

Thanks so much for sharing with us!  The artwork is great.

Dear Tom,

     Thank you for the PDF. I've already printed it out.
And of course you are right - some stoppers were made from flat collars which needed drilling, and  a flat-based cabochon.
Best,
Joey

Hi Tom
thanks for sharing this for us,it is really good research on stoppers,thank you

ye liu