Snuff Bottles Bedazzle Bidders at Cordier’s November Fine & Decorative Arts Sale

November 14, 2024 – Harrisburg, PA – Once again, in total, Cordier Auction’s quarterly Fine & Decorative Arts Auction brings almost a quarter of a million dollars with a small collection of high-quality Asian snuff bottles taking the spotlight.

Larry Johnson, Specialist in Fine Art, noted “we were excited to conduct the research on these fine Qing Dynasty antiques and to provide cataloging and exceptional photography allowing the collection to come to fruition in the world marketplace."

During the Qing dynasty (1644-1912), Chinese craftsmen began to produce fabulous 1-1/2” to 3” containers for snuff tobacco. In just a small amount of space, the craftsman demonstrated their exceptional skill. These snuff bottles were not just for functionality but served as a status symbol. Additional symbolic motifs and designs further enhanced their cultural significance as objects of contemplation and conversation. In recent years, these snuff bottles have become quite the hit at auction.

A stunning amethyst snuff bottle fetched $2,852, showcasing intricate low-relief carvings and a jade stopper. Amethyst was a prized material for craftsmen, but it was not easy to come by, making it quite the rare and highly sought-after collectible. Usually, these bottles also included intricate low-relief designs with natural motifs to truly help bring out the amethyst color.

A celadon jade bottle, prized for its purity and symbolic significance, sold for $2,728. These are perhaps the most prized of snuff bottles, as jade represents purity and immortality, and owning jade signifies your status amongst the wealthy. Besides creating wonderful reliefs on the outside, artisans also had to carefully hollow out the center. Those produced in the 18th century are considered the rarest.

Overlay glass also became quite popular during the Qing dynasty, allowing other artisans to explore the realm of snuff bottles. The process begins with a core of one color and then the artisan would begin to layer with other colors to create a contrast. The more complex the design, the more value it brings. An overlay glass snuff bottle in Cordier’s auction brought $2,365, as it featured double layers of glass on top of a bright pink core.

A final snuff bottle brought $2,497 and featured Guanyin figures on porcelain. This piece featured a mark from an artisan during the Qianlong period, dating to somewhere between 1736 and 1795. Porcelain became a popular material in the 18th century, and the imperial court commissioned several artisans to only produce these types of snuff bottles. While certainly not as rare as the most precious stones, this piece’s age pushed it to the top of the collection.

In other categories, several pieces exceeded expectations including a rare Gorham 'Medallion' Sterling Silver Tea & Coffee Service ($5,208), a Peter Max “Flag with Heart” Painting ($9,920), a fabulous Pacific Northwest mask by Gene Brabant ($1,488), a Wolf Kahn original ($49,600), and a gorgeous Metropolitan Museum of Art Mottahedeh dinnerware service ($8,060).

As Cordier prepares for 2025, could your treasures be the next big find? We invite you to discover and be a part of the next grouping of hidden gems from Central Pennsylvania. Visit www.cordierauction.com or contact us at 717-731-8662 / [email protected] for more information on consigning and buying. All items noted include the buyer’s premium.

Gorham “Medallion” Sterling Silver Tea & Coffee Service Pattern 211 (1850 - 1860) [SOLD: $5,208]

Peter Max Flag with Heart Painting [SOLD: $9,920]

"Ruler of the Underworld" Bella Bella Komokwa Mask by Gene Brabant [SOLD: $1,488]

Wolf Kahn (German/American, 1927-2020) “Pink Sky” [SOLD: $49,600]