Explore the history, types, and value ranges of Chinese snuff bottles from the 17th century to the present concentrating mostly on affordable examples. Here 340 diverse bottles of stone, glass, enamels, porcelain, and other materials are described & shown in beautiful color photographs. You'll want to own some.

One of the loveliest objects to come from China's Imperial history is the snuff bottle--elegant, tactile, beautifully crafted, and above all small; it makes an ideal subject for collectors. This book clearly explains the history of snuff and its specialized bottles from the 17th century to the present in America, Europe, and China. For the novice, it provides fascinating background and descriptive information, and for the established collector it showcases over 650 diverse snuff bottles to study and admire through excellent color photographs. There are examples of glass, stone, porcelain, enamel, wood, ivory, amber and other bottles with distinctive interior and exterior decorations. Each bottle is fully described with a value range. This book shows that it is not necessary to be wealthy to own good snuff bottles, nor is it guaranteed that only wealthy collectors have the best ones. Be prepared to be delighted in this addictive collecting field.

Out of print for more than 10 years, this exceptional book has become a rare item sought after by collectors for many years. This important limited edition reprint is inevitable and fulfills the growing need of new collectors for reliable and useful reference on the subject. This book is produced in Japan with high quality to ensure the superb feel of the original edition. Each copy is hand-numbered. It covers snuff bottles made of all the various precious materials and discusses the fundamentals of collecting and details of the symbolism, motifs, reign marks, and seals. Moreover, it includes extensive bibliography useful for further research.

Chinese Snuff Bottles is invaluable document for all interested in the history of Chinese art. It is also a lucid and fascinating guidebook for the collector or would be collector, both of snuff bottles and other products of Chinese craftsmanship. All the skills and ingenuity of the Chinese artisans were lavished upon the production of these tiny bottles, making them pre-eminent representatives of the best in Chinese craftsmanship. This classic art history book is the first full account in any language of this facet of Chinese art. It includes a comprehensive treatment of the origins and development of the snuff bottle in China as well as over 150 actual-size reproductions, the majority in full color. It is a fascinating story by an enthusiastic collector, who captivated by the beauty and ingenuity found in these bottles, had the interest to delve into the historical background techniques of manufacture, kind and quality of materials, classification and organization of types, and the like, as well as a delightfully informal style with which to communicate her wide knowledge and enthusiasm to the reader.

China's art objects and traditionally manufactured products have long been sought by collectors--from porcelains and silk fabrics to furniture and even the lacquered chopsticks that are a distant relation to ones found in most Chinese restaurants. Things Chinese presents sixty distinctive items that are typical of Chinese culture and together open a special window onto the people, history, and society of the world's largest nation. Many of the objects are collectibles, and each has a story to tell. The objects relate to six major areas of cultural life: the home, the personal, arts & crafts, eating & drinking, entertainment, and religious practice. They include items both familiar and unfamiliar--from snuff bottles and calligraphy scrolls to moon cake molds and Mao memorabilia. Ronald Knapp's evocative text describes the history, cultural significance, and customs relating to each object, while Michael Freeman's superb photographs illustrate them. Together, text and photographs offer a unique look at the material culture of China and the aesthetics that inform it.

This volume is a biography and study of Ma Shaoxuan by his grandson Ma Zengshan. It is an important personal narrative recounting his life and career by a grandson who provides details about his background, date of birth, training and education, the origin of his art name and the seals he used, his attraction to inside-painted portrait bottles and the choice of calligraphic texts that appear on the reverse of so many different types of bottles.

First Published in 1998 , The Dictionary of Enamelling is the first book to provide a comprehensive guide to this most diverse of the decorative arts.Indispensable for anyone interested in the evolution of enamelling technique, the book includes some 400 entries covering every aspect of its history. There are entries on key pieces, individual enamellers, designers, schools, techniques, and the major achievements are described in every era. The knowledge and insight of Erika Speel’s account are supported and enhanced by a brilliantly researched collection of 200 illustrations, 100 in colour, portraying the most dazzling and important pieces, a unique visual record of enamelling history. The Dictionary of Enamelling will be invaluable to people who collect, study, create and enjoy enamels.