Handbook of Chinese Snuff Bottles (The)

This eye-popping book clearly and visually explores the history, types, and value ranges of Chinese snuff bottles from the 17th century to the present as no other book has. It concentrates mostly on affordable examples and explains how these can be just as important as their more expensive cousins. These small pretty objects are a reflection of the popularity of snuffing tobacco, particularly in the 17th and 18th centuries. Today, the bottles are avidly collected for their beauty, variety, and high level of craftsmanship. Here, 340 diverse bottles of stone, glass, enamels, porcelain, and other materials are shown in beautiful color photographs. Once you have read the book, you'll want to touch the bottles; and once you've touched them, you'll want to own some. The problem then will be when to stop, if ever.

Trevor Cornforth and Nathan Cheung are each both enthusiastic snuff bottle collectors and respected antiques dealers with separate shops in Westcliff On Sea, Essex, U.K. They have also co-authored a larger volume, Chinese Snuff Bottles, A Guide to Addictive Miniatures (Schiffer, 2002).