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THE POPOWICH COLLECTION OF CHINESE EXPORT SNUFFBOXESSnuff-taking, like so much else, came from Asia to Europe in the Age of Exploration and was well-established among the fashionable classes by the end of the 17th century. Associated with royalty and the aristocracy, snuff-taking was an inherently social pursuit, involving the trading and sharing of favored blends. Boxes made to hold the powdered tobacco were kept in the lefthand pocket; body heat enhanced the bouquet. Flat tops and tight metal mounts kept the tobacco dry and fresh, while the luxurious materials and decoration of these most personal objects telegraphed their owners’ elegance. Typically, a box was removed with a flourish, tapped three times to settle the powder, and then offered to one’s comrades, its open cover often revealing a charmingly decorated interior.
A FAMILLE ROSE PORCELAIN SNUFF BOX
QIANLONG PERIOD (1735-96)
Details
A FAMILLE ROSE PORCELAIN SNUFF BOX
QIANLONG PERIOD (1735-96)
Finely painted en grisaille with a 17th century Dutch couple, top and sides with blossoms, the base with a puce flower spray
3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm.) wide
QIANLONG PERIOD (1735-96)
Finely painted en grisaille with a 17th century Dutch couple, top and sides with blossoms, the base with a puce flower spray
3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm.) wide