Yan's Crystal - Inside Painted Glass Art

Chinese inside painted bottle is called the epitome of Chinese arts, such as painting, calligraphy, carving, inlaying, handicrafts, ceramics, glassware, enamel, etc. And it is. It really is. It was used as containers for powdered tobacco. Tobacco was introduced into China from Europe towards the end of the 16th Century. Later Jesuit missionaries were known to have presented the Emperor with an elaborate snuff box and a quantity of tobacco. The Emperor delighted in this gift but soon found that tobacco powder could be better preserved in the traditional Chinese medicine bottles. He had equally elegant bottles made for himself and members of his family. Soon these bottles became a status symbol for the nobility and increasingly common among the court, rich landlords and merchants. But at 1970s many supper class artworks were destroyed and inside painting skills were also forbidden to learn. Even until now most of Chinese people have never heard and seen inside painted artwork. Now many inside painted bottles are collected by museums and collectors.