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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: xmelax38 on December 07, 2012, 03:09:25 PM

Title: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: xmelax38 on December 07, 2012, 03:09:25 PM
My title is dumb, I know. I wasn't sure what to put there. I have a snuff bottle I bought at an auction (well sort of, it was a local auction and I did live bidding - my husband was there, but I stayed home to do my bidding). Anyway, this auction really did not have a lot of people there, from what I was told by my husband I could have got a lot of stuff cheaper than I did online - couldn't go though.

Anyway, I bought this snuff bottle at what I thought was a great price. Now I am rethinking the whole thing. I had put in ebay search for past results the same exact description the auctioneer had for it and only a few of that type came up. The one I have does not look like them exactly. It is very small and I think very cute. We put it on ebay with a large amt & with an obo. I kept changing it back and forth between auction and buy it now.  So I got to looking at others under just "chinese snuff bottle" and there were some on there for 4.50 that sold and up to 400 or more. How do I know what kind of snuff bottle I have? I mean, how do I know if it is reproduction or if it is worth a good amount? It appears to possibly have some brown stuff in the bottom of it, inside. I am affixing photos. Sorry if this all sounds confusing, as I am confused myself.

Thank you all ahead of time.

(http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/uu247/jellymel36/101.jpg)

(http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/uu247/jellymel36/102.jpg)

(http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/uu247/jellymel36/104.jpg)
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: mart on December 07, 2012, 03:15:18 PM
You need the glass people on this one !!  Very unusual but I have no idea what type of glass to call it !!  Although I have read about something that sounded similar,, if I can remember where !!
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: xmelax38 on December 07, 2012, 04:29:04 PM
Thank you. :) they had probably 10 (I think) at the auction. It was someone's whole collection. There was something about this one that made me bid on it. I bud on 2 others but lost out and probably as well, because I ended up going over my limit. My husband got some nice antiques to make the house look nice and I ended up with some junk and this, ha ha. I always spend too much - it's an addiction when you get into the bidding war.
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: KC on December 07, 2012, 06:10:58 PM
Is the bottle made out of glass or is it made out of carved agate?  Many were made of agate with cameos carved into them.
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: xmelax38 on December 07, 2012, 06:12:34 PM
I thought so at first but the auctioneer said it was a snuff bottle and it had the bamboo type scoop on it, plus what might be tobacco in the bottom of it.
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: xmelax38 on December 07, 2012, 06:14:45 PM
Is the bottle made out of glass or is it made out of carved agate?  Many were made of agate with cameos carved into them.

It looks like agate to us, and that's what they said it was. :)
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: bigwull on December 07, 2012, 06:21:08 PM
mind you with a little spoon like that it could well be used for sticking powder up yer hooter... ;)
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: mart on December 07, 2012, 06:26:14 PM
Many actually did sniff tobacco/snuff !!
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: KC on December 07, 2012, 06:28:15 PM
That's exactly what it was used for...
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: bigwull on December 07, 2012, 06:53:12 PM
but did,nt they put it on the back of their hand then snort....
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: xmelax38 on December 07, 2012, 06:56:16 PM
Oh wow and ewe! I couldn't imagine putting anything up my nose. I am afraid of nose spray. No way would I ever put that up my nose. I wonder what made them think back then to put that up their nose.
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: bigwull on December 07, 2012, 07:08:01 PM
I know what you mean..I was at the hospital recently..and the Dr...put a tube up my nostril..and then down into my throat...it had a camera on the end of it...it sure brought tears to my eye,s...and a good deal of gagging in my throat....
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: xmelax38 on December 07, 2012, 07:19:14 PM
I can feel ya there! Not a good experience.
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: KC on December 07, 2012, 08:43:26 PM
Wikipedia "Snuff is a product made from ground or pulverised tobacco leaves. It is an example of smokeless tobacco. It originated in the Americas and was in common use in Europe by the 17th century.

It is generally insufflated (inhaled) or "snuffed" through the nose either directly from the fingers or by using specially made "snuffing" devices. There is a general misconception associated with "the snuff sniff." The nicotine in snuff is absorbed through the mucus membrane, so a pinch of snuff only needs to get into the nose. Most snuffers agree that if the snuff gets into the sinuses, one is inhaling too strongly....."

That put in the mouth is a "Chaw of Ta'bacco" as said by the Texans!
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: xmelax38 on December 07, 2012, 09:21:17 PM
That is interesting! Thank you for sharing that. :D
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: cogar on December 08, 2012, 03:39:19 AM
Quote
That put in the mouth is a "Chaw of Ta'bacco" as said by the Texans!

Nah, ya don't chaw on snuf.

Ya put a "pinch" of it between your lower teeth and lip or cheek.
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: bigwull on December 08, 2012, 04:33:39 AM
Quote
That put in the mouth is a "Chaw of Ta'bacco" as said by the Texans!

Nah, ya don't chaw on snuf.

Ya put a "pinch" of it between your lower teeth and lip or cheek.
Na!!...you,d be as well stuffing it between the cheeks o. yer arse..for all the good it would do you...sticking it..in yer Gob!!.... ;D
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: ghopper1924 on December 08, 2012, 07:16:25 AM
Right, snuff back then was viewed as a stimulant, not unlike coca-cola in its earliest days. Nicotine was the reason for snuff, and as for coke, well, the name said it all.

Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: xmelax38 on December 08, 2012, 08:24:38 AM
I don't know what I just pushed on here, I am on this little ipod (I have my likes & dislikes about it, but luckily this forum post is still here, lol.  Anyway, You all are making my day! I am getting a goid laugh and boy oh boy did I need that! :)
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: Rauville on December 08, 2012, 08:47:43 AM
One clue on determining the age of an agate bottle is to look inside to see how much effort went into hollowing out the interior. Some of the newer ones are merely drilled out through the neck.

The following is a an interesting article on snuff bottles:
http://chineseantiques.wordpress.com/collecting-chinese-snuff-bottles-%e2%80%93-magical-stone-pictures/ (http://chineseantiques.wordpress.com/collecting-chinese-snuff-bottles-%e2%80%93-magical-stone-pictures/)
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: xmelax38 on December 08, 2012, 09:48:20 AM
I will check that out. Thank you for the information.
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: KC on December 08, 2012, 11:08:29 AM
(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/pb-120708-snuff-jb-03.photoblog900.jpg)
Combo of six pictures shows participants of the Snuff World Championship sniffing smokeless tobacco. About 300 men and women try to put a maximum of five grams of tobacco in their noses within one minute to win the competition. According to experts, not a big nose is the best condition to be succesful, but intensive training and a sophisticated technique.

(http://static.dangerousminds.net/uploads/images/Snuff1sdfsdfsdfsdf.jpg)
Woman using snuff 1855.

Believe it or not, snuff use for women is up...especially in universities!!!!
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: bigwull on December 08, 2012, 12:10:11 PM
If you were to ask me..i,d say that ..her in the gilt framed pick....is picking a ..bogie out of her beak...rather than sticking something up it..... ;D
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: mart on December 08, 2012, 01:18:56 PM
LOL !!  I will stick with a cold beer and no,,, not up the nostrils Wullie !!  Much less messy !!
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: cogar on December 09, 2012, 05:10:38 AM
Quote
That put in the mouth is a "Chaw of Ta'bacco" as said by the Texans!

Nah, ya don't chaw on snuf.

Ya put a "pinch" of it between your lower teeth and lip or cheek.
Na!!...you,d be as well stuffing it between the cheeks o. yer arse..for all the good it would do you...sticking it..in yer Gob!!.... ;D

Now Wuffie, iffen ya want to "snort" its called "sniffin snuff", ..... but now the EXPERT snuff users call it ......, (ya ready for this), ....... "rubbing snuff".

In West Virginia there have been "tobaccy chawers" and "snuff rubbers" long, long before "Hector was a pup".

And iffen ya don't believe me, click & read ..... this url link:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19790603&id=HMksAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NRMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3770,603826 (http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19790603&id=HMksAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NRMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3770,603826)
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: ghopper1924 on December 09, 2012, 05:45:29 AM
Hmm, the article said that alot of "chewers" just swallow the excess saliva these days, without the traditional after-effects. Much less repulsive to the rest of the population.

Since most of us are interested in history to some extent, it's interesting to note that the behavior most hated by overseas visitors to the U.S. in the 19th century was the spitting associated with tobacco chewing. Contemporary accounts even talked about the aisles of churches being black and slimey because of it.

Here's hoping that stays in the past where it belongs!
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: cogar on December 09, 2012, 06:11:12 AM
 
Quote
the article said that alot of "chewers" just swallow the excess saliva these days, without the traditional after-effects.

Now I can attest to the fact of those "traditional after-effects" because I am convinced that is what killed my father after all those many, many years of "chawing & swallowing" his tobaccy juice.

He up n' died just three (3) days short of his 93rd Birthday.

Or maybe it was his 94th, ... I'se forget.

Unless it was those cigarettes he smoked for a couple years fore he went to work for the  C&C RR at age 16.   ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Snuff Bottles, how do I know what it could be worth, identifying?
Post by: bigwull on December 09, 2012, 06:21:05 AM
It could,nt have been the cigarettes??... ;D ;D..their good for you..... ;D ;D ;D