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We collect snuff bottles. While we have nearly 40 we are still relative novices. The majority of our collection was acquired by me sight-unseen. I saw a picture of a collection of 28 snuff bottles in an auction catalog and bid over the phone. During the process there was this annoying noise in my left ear that got louder as I bid higher. The noise was my wife. I am hoping you can help me rehabilitate my wife's opinion of my judgment.

I think this is one of the better snuff bottles in the collection. The body is about 3.25 inches tall. It appears to carved from one piece of hornbill ivory - including the delicate chain. Obviously, this piece was not used for snuff but was created as a decorative object. The wooden stand has brass scroll work pressed into the wood.

Here are the things I would like to know:

1) I have reviewed many auctions and have yet to see a hornbill ivory snuff bottle come up. I have no idea of value. Can anyone hazard a guess? This (I hope) will help with the above mentioned problem.

2) There are no age markings. Anyone have an idea of age?

3) Can anyone translate the text on the reverse side?

4) Any other information, observations, or comments would be welcomed.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Stan

the center four characters; double dragons fighting for a pearl. The left states that it was made in the Ming dynasty. I cannot read the characters on the right side.

The carving seems very beautiful, but I am not good in telling the age at all.

Looks new to me. I thought that snuff bottles did not start to made/become popular in China until the early to mid Qing dynasty (after the Ming) and were a form influenced via Western styles/goods.

Could be wrong on all of this. I defer to the other great experts here.

Kit Chan, if asked to guess what the text said, my last guess would be the obvious. That's like painting a velvet picture of dogs playing poker and then painting "Dogs Playing Poker" at the bottom. Thanks for the translation.

hoss is basically correct in his short timeline of Chinese snuff bottles. Quoting from "Chinese Snuff Bottles - The Adventures & Studies of a Collector" by Lilla Perry:

"The fashion of taking snuff started in both Europe and China at the same time, roughly about 1650. Accept this date as very rough indeed. Personally, I have a terrible memory for dates and do better with round numbers. I use this date also because there seems so little agreement among the authorities as to its precise beginning. There are those who believe that the taking of snuff began as early as in the Ming dynasty which just preceded the Manchu."

Snuff bottles became an art form unto themselves. Emperor Qianlong was a patron of the arts and avid snuff user. Lilla says his chief advisor is reputed to have had a collection of 2390.

We, therefore, can probably discount it being a Ming snuff bottle - IF IT IS A SNUFF BOTTLE!

FLASH: I assumed this was a snuff bottle because I bought it with a collection of snuff bottles. I took it off the shelf and popped it open. It has no spoon and never did! What else might it be?

It is new and it carved in the 60s of this style for display onyl and not for snuff. BTW, if its for sale, u can make me an offer.

We hadn't considered selling. It is our only hornbill ivory item. Plus, it is an attractive object and looks awful nice in our "museum" with our snuff bottles.

Plus, this isn't an auction site. Offers should be made by private email. ;-)

Thanks for the interest.

I happen to have an antique Helmeted Hornbill Chineese snuff bottle
It is made from the bill, not the casque. It is vertically mounted on an elephant ivory base. It has a poem about a man looking across the water at a sad event in a previous lifetime. The spoon is made from elephant ivory that is 2in long.I have had this piece for 30 years. It is not for sale
About your piece. It appears to be ceremonial.It dosen't have the patina of an antique. Hornbill ivory was highly prized by the Chineese. Whatever it is, it's a keeper

Hello Stan,
Ebay currently 6/5/06 has the following Helmeted Hornbill snuff bottles on it's site.

6632771455 Chinese snuff bottle
6632771428 Chinese snuff bottle
6632771417 Chinese snuff bottle
6635243871 Chinese snuff bottle

It is against US and international law to traffic in CITES listed appendix #1 species (helmeted hornbill are critically endangered)
without proper permits
Ebay is in violation of US and international law by allowing this activity on their site. And
they don't care one bit. I know. I contact them on a regular basis and urge them to remove endangered species from their listings. I recently reported 9 endangered species to ebay that were listed on their site. They removed 2:
#6634981845 Cheetah skin
#6634979175 Leopard skin

They wouldn't remove 7 hornbill items endangered or not.
#7246836842 Rhinoceros Hornbill head
#7246833891 Helmeted Hornbill head
#7420119640 Blyth's Hornbill
and the 4 above mentioned snuff bottles

I would urge your readers to observe proper protocol while purchasing endangered species. We
should know and abide by the law.
None of us wish to contribute to the demise of these magnificent birds.
Thank You,
Scott McNulty

" would urge your readers to observe proper protocol while purchasing endangered species. We
should know and abide by the law.
None of us wish to contribute to the demise of these magnificent birds.
Thank You,
Scott McNulty "

I agree that these animals should be protected and trade should be discouraged.

But to my surprise I noticed that Scott himself is a buyer of these items.

see link below
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4172&item=7406172150

Please explain??


URL Title :Scott buying hornbill skull ?!?!

The item in question is a Rufous hornbill ( buceros hydrocorax) This is not a CITES listed species.
On the other hand, the Helmeted hornbill (buceros vigil) listed CITES Appendix I could soon go the way of the Dodo bird. It was included on the first list that CITES came up with in 1970's. These birds have been hunted to the brink of extinction.
I would like to know why ebay so callously disregards US and international laws when it comes to the offer and sale of endangered species on it's site. If you are in cyberspace are you beyond the law? It seems so.
I would like to see ebay make a clear cut policy change regarding it's sales of endangered species. To be more direct; there should be no endangered animals on ebay whatsoever. The whole world is watching and ebay is setting a terrible example.

EXTINCTION IS FOREVER

Scott,

Another auction that has horned bill ivory on it is Aspire Auctions. I came across this site while trying to find info about my piece. If you look at their past auctions, there are several pieces. For example, see the link below.

Cheers,
Stan

URL Title :Aspire Auction, May 2006

A horn bill snuff bottle sold at Christie's for around $17,500. It was a cabinet piece with chains. FYI. Christie's did note that law prohibits movement of these to some countries.

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