Snuff bottles were used to store snuff, a fine powder made by grinding tobacco. To enhance it's
aroma, spices and herbs were sometimes added. When sniffed into the nostrils, it cleared the
nasal passages by inducing sneezing. Snuff was introduced to China at the beginning of the 17th
century. The taking of snuff first took hold at the Manchu court and soon spread throughout the
country. During the late 18th and 19th centuries, the habit of taking snuff became extremely
prevalent and thus provided a great demand for snuff bottles. In the west, snuff was kept in boxes
but they were unsuitable for use in China's humid climate, as they were not airtight. Craftsmen
solved the problem by borrowing from the form of the traditional Chinese medecine bottle, modifying
it to make snuff bottles as seen today. There are many different materials used for snuff bottles,
including porcelain, glass, enamel, ivory, lacquer, jade and other stones.