| Transcript |
- During the reigns of Kangxi (1662-1722), Yongzheng (1723-1735) and Qianlong (1736-1795), European envoys presented snuff and snuff boxes to the Manchu court as a way of promoting cordial relations with China. However, their boxes proved impractical due to China's humid climate, so the Chinese first used small glass medicine bottles for snuff. A tiny spoon, usually of ivory or silver and occasionally tortoise shell, was attached to the inside of the stopper cap and was used to scoop out the snuff from the bottle. The small opening of the bottle kept moisture out, preserved the freshness of the snuff and prevented spillage. These bottles became miniature works of art and highly collectible items. The Manchu emperors made use of snuff bottles as gifts to express imperial favour to civil officials and military men of great merit as well as to foreign envoys and dignitaries. They even set up imperial workshops or ateliers on the palace grounds to produce snuff bottles. Snuff bottles were produced elsewhere in China and sometimes were given as bribes by individuals for political favours. He Shen, a greedy corrupt chief advisor of Emperor Qianlong, had a collection of 2,390 snuff bottles, which would eventually be exploited as evidence of his venality and his crimes.
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