The Value of Chinese Snuff Bottles - 1Earth Antiques & Appraisals Magazine

While taking snuff may have fallen out of favor, snuff bottles continue to be treasured

The Market for Snuff Bottles
The current Asian art market is enjoying the upswing of a strong economy in the United States. One of the strengths of the snuff bottle market lies in the fact that it has always been fueled by an international clientele of dedicated private collectors and trade. Not only are there important Asian buyers, but major players in Europe and America.

Prices for snuff bottles don't fluctuate as much as other areas of the Asian art market due to the nature of the collectors. Dedicated private collectors of snuff bottles tend to be highly specialized and tend not to buy other Asian art. As a result, prices remain steady when other areas of the market are experiencing a low period.

Chinese painted enamel snuff bottle, Qianlong period, c. 1736-95

Chinese painted enamel
snuff bottle, Qianlong
period,c. 1736-95

At the very top of the market, Imperial snuff bottles are considered to be the holy grail of collecting. A bottle that is associated with Imperial craftsmanship can sell at auction for anywhere between $100,000 to $150,000. A recent example of an enameled and carved glass bottle sold for $134,000 against an estimate of $50-70,000.

The incredibly strong price for this bottle is due to a number of factors. First of all, the workmanship was very special, with extraordinary carving. The bottle also has a great provenance, having come from the collection of Alfred M. Landon, a Snuff Bottle collector and U.S. presidential candidate in the 1940's. But most importantly, there was the guyuexuan (Ancient Moon Pavilion) mark on the base. This mark firmly attributes the bottle to an Imperial workshop during the period of 1750-1850.

Fortunately, there are many snuff bottles on the market that fall in the average price range of $1000 to $5000. Novice collectors can find decent enameled glass snuff bottles in the $400 to $500 range.

Chinese caramel glass snuff bottle

Chinese caramel glass snuff
bottle with cinnabar splashes, attributed to Beijing, possibly Imperial, c. 18th century

It is not unheard of to find snuff bottles in flea markets for considerably less, although forgeries are common. The biggest disappointment in today's market is how finely crafted these fakes can be, and how easily they deceive.

During the past 10 years, the market has benefited from the publication of scholarly books that showcase the world's most important collections. We recommend that new collectors first invest in reference materials. These publications sell in the $200-300 range and are also highly sought after among snuff bottle enthusiasts.

Collectors can now go to eBay and see more than 400 snuff bottles that will be sold at an upcoming online auction. Estimates range from $400 to $10,000.

Within the rarified world of Asian art, snuff bottle collectors have always had the advantage of being able to choose from a wide variety of price level, quality, and medium. And while the practice of taking snuff may have fallen out of favor, the legacy of this old custom is alive and well for collectors of snuff bottles.