The snuff of the Orient

I bought this little Chinese snuff bottle in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, one of the largest covered markets in the world with 60 streets and 5,000 shops. I remember spending a happy half hour haggling over the price until Mrs Talpa lost patience, pointing out that the shopkeeper and I were arguing over 25p - it seemed more in Turkish Lira!

Snuff bottles were originally used by the Chinese during the Qing Dynasty to contain powdered tobacco. Smoking tobacco was illegal during the Dynasty, but the use of snuff was allowed because the Chinese considered snuff to be a remedy for common illnesses such as colds, headaches and stomach disorders. Therefore, snuff was carried in a small bottle like other medicines.

Snuff bottles were made out of many different materials including porcelain, jade, ivory, wood, tortoiseshell, metal, ceramic and glass. The stopper usually had a very small spoon attached for extracting the snuff. This one has been hand carved from translucent quartz. I'm not at all sure as to how old it is.