Bottled Love Cat

Lyrical Love Leaf

セダム 子持ち蓮華

Bottled Love Cat

Snuff Bottle 　(from Wikipedia)

Snuff bottles were used by the Chinese during the Qing Dynasty to contain powdered tobacco. Smoking tobacco was illegal during the Dynasty, but the use of snuff was allowed because the Chinese considered snuff to be a remedy for common illnesses such as colds, headaches and stomach disorders. Therefore, snuff was carried in a small bottle like other medicines.
The snuff bottle is comparable to the snuff box used by Europeans.

北京の官人たちが愛した掌の芸術品

鼻煙壺 (びえんこ） BI YAN FU
明の時代（1368～1644）にイタリアからから中国に伝わった嗅ぎ煙草は、

上流社会を中心に中国でも大流行しました。

Tobacco was introduced to the court at Beijing some time during the mid- to late-16th century. It was originally smoked in pipes before the establishment of the Qing Dynasty. The use of snuff and snuff bottles spread through the upper class, and by the end of the 17th century it had become a part of social ritual to use snuff. This lasted through most of the 18th century. Eventually, the trend spread into the rest of the country and into every social class. It was common to offer a pinch of snuff as a way to greet friends and relatives. Snuff bottles soon became an object of beauty and a way to represent status. The highest status went to whoever had the rarest and finest snuff bottle.
The peak of snuff bottle manufacture was during the 18th century.
初めは輸入された鼻煙箱に入れ持ち歩いていたそうですが、欧州と違い湿気の多い中国では
高価な嗅ぎ煙草を湿けらせない為にも、 密封度が高い壷状の容器が考えられました。
はじめはその頃薬を入れるために使われていたガラスの小瓶を代用品として使っていました。
これが鼻煙壷の原型となりそれが、その後の清（1636～1912）時代の極盛期を経て、
携帯用の容器から芸術性を競うものへと性格を変化させていきます。

The use of snuff increased and decreased with the rise and fall of the Qing Dynasty and died away soon after the establishment of the Republic of China. However, replica snuff bottles are still being made, and can be purchased in souvenir shops, flea markets and museum gift shops. Original snuff bottles from the Qing period are a desirable target for serious collectors and museums. A good bottle has an extra quality over and above its exquisite beauty and value: that is touch.
Snuff bottles were made to be held and so, as a rule, they have a wonderful tactile quality.

その時代は北京の宮廷内に鼻煙壺を専門に作る工房が置かれ、
そこで作り出される『皇帝の鼻煙壺』は、その他の民間で作られる雑多な物と区別するため
『官料鼻煙壺』と呼ばれ、 主に家臣への褒美や外交時の手土産などに使われました。

鼻煙壺（びえんこ）素材もまたさまざまに分化し金や銀や錫の金属製・玉や瑪瑙等の貴石の鼻煙壺や、
白磁などの陶器や硝子やエナメル彩・象牙等々、ありとあらゆる素材がこの小さな壺、
鼻煙壺に使用されました。

先が曲がった針金のような細い筆で、ガラスの内側に巧みに描かれいます。

一番の特徴は「逆絵」といって、絵や文字を裏がえしに書いている所です。

いずも片方の手のひらに収まる大きさです。
And then,

Lyrical Love Cat