Photos : Courtesy of Asian Civilisations Museum
Text & Layout : Geraldine Teo

The Exhibition
'Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Sanctum of Enlightened Respect III' is the third in a series of exhibitions from the private collection of Denis Low, this one featuring 355 snuff bottles, including masterpieces from the 17th century till the end of Imperial China and beyond.

The taking of snuff, a mixture of powdered tobacco and aromatic substances, was initially a habit of the ruling classes of the Qing Dynasty. It soon spread to the merchant class and the rest of China, and was believed to have medicinal properties, including the treatment of colds and headaches.

Due to the humid conditions of the Orient, the Chinese stored the powdery substance in tiny, portable containers called 'snuff bottles'. A miniature spoon within each bottle was used to retrieve the snuff, which would then be placed on a snuff dish, or on the hand, to be ingested through the nose.

Beautiful snuff bottles were soon crafted and collected by the wealthy, as prized possessions and status symbols. This stunning array includes exquisite bottles made of almost every available kind of material - from porcelain, glass, jade and lacquer, to amber, coral, hornbill and bamboo.

The Collector
An eminent connoisseur, Denis Low has amassed his collection over a period of 28 years. He is a Director and Patron of the International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society, and Patron of the Singapore-Chinatown Snuff Bottle Society. His passion for this miniature art form has culminated in a collection that is hailed as one of the best in the world today.

The 'Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Sanctum of Enlightened Respect III' exhibition is at the Shaw Foundation Foyer, on Level 2 of the Asian Civilisations Museum, from 12 July - 27 November, 2007.