Chinese Hornbill Snuff Bottles from Late Qing Dynasty
Three Chinese carved hornbill snuff bottles, Late Qing Dynasty 2.36 in., 2.36 in., 2.83 in. (3). Provenance: Purchased at Lawson's and Grays Auction, and Michael J Kaynes in the late 1980s and early 1990s in Australia Lawson's and Grays Auction, Michael J Kaynes
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- Qing Dynasty - The Qing Dynasty was the last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912. It was established by the Manchu people, who originated from the northeastern region of China. The Qing Dynasty was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China.
- Ming Dynasty - The Ming Dynasty was a ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644. It succeeded the Yuan Dynasty and preceded the Qing Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty was established by Zhu Yuanzhang, a former Buddhist monk who became a rebel leader and eventually overthrew the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty, China experienced a period of relative stability and prosperity. The government was centralized and bureaucratic, with the emperor at the top of the hierarchy. The Ming Dynasty is known for its cultural achievements, including the development of porcelain, the invention of movable type printing, and the construction of the Great Wall of China.
- Hornbill - Oriental antique descriptions occasionally refer to "hornbill" or "hornbill ivory" as the material from which the object is made. In fact the hornbill is a large bird, the helmeted hornbill, found in a few South-East Asian countries, and the name is also applied to the material obtained from a growth on the upper section of the beak of the bird, known as a casque.
In its natural form it is a yellow colour, but when the hornbill rubs its beak while preening its feathers, the growth turns a red colour.
As well as being used as a carving material in areas where the bird is found, hornbill became popular as a carving medium with the Chinese in the 19th century, and it was prized (and priced) ahead of ivory and jade.
The helmeted hornbill is listed in Appendix 1 of CITES, (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) meaning that trade in hornbill objects requires import and export permits.
the s natural ivory from the bird, native to Indonesia. The hornbill is now an endangered species, but due to the apparent age of the jewelry, this item would be legal for trade. Hornbill ivory is not a true ivory as it is not a dentine material, but rather a keratin. Hornbill ivory of this nature was often carved from the lower layer of the hornbill casque for the western market. The upper area, with a strong red coloration, was traded to the Eastern market. The upper areas of these pieces yet show some of the red coloring. The rest is in the strong yellowish color of natural hornbill.
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