Chinese Snuff Bottles

TOBACCO WAS INTRODUCED TO CHINA AT THE END OF THE 16TH CENTURY, AFTER IT HAD ALREADY MADE ITS WAY FROM THE FIELDS OF NORTH AMERICA TO THE SALONS OF EUROPE. PIPESMOKING WAS THE PREFERRED FORM OF CONSUMPTION, BUT WHEN MING DYNASTY EMPEROR CHONGZHEN IMPOSED A NATIONAL BAN ON SMOKING IN 1639, SNUFF TOOK ITS PLACE. THE POWDERED FORM OF TOBACCO WAS DISTRIBUTED IN ORNATE BOTTLES THAT BECAME SOUGHTAFTER ACCESSORIES AMONG THE ARISTOCRACY. LONDON-BASED SNUFF BOTTLE SPECIALIST ROBERT HALL IS BRINGING MANY CLASSIC EXAMPLES TO THE FAIR.