Mongolian Embroidered Wool Felt Snuff Bottle Pouch

Mongolian Embroidered Wool Felt Man's Snuff Bottle Pouch
This emroidered pouch is from Mongolia. I acquired it several years ago in the Gobi desert in central Mongolia, in the land of Chinghis Khan. The Mongols have a custom of sharing their snuff bottles as part of their greeting ritual. When visitors arrive, the head of the household will take out their snuff bottle and pass it around to each of the guests, holding it in their right hand and extending it out to the guest as if to shake hands, left hand holding up the right elbow. The guest receives the bottle in the same manner, partially opens the top to take a pleasurable whiff of the snuff inside, removes the cap with a spoon attached, scooping out a small amount of snuff, sprinkles it on the side of their hand then snuffing it into the nose. The cap is then partially replaced, and returned to the host. This pouch is embroidered with the same design on both front and back. Along the center middle seam on one side is a 5 inch slit. It is edged in a green gold brocade fabric and lined with a dark plum purple twill fabric. The pouch is tucked under and folded over the cloth sash wrapped around the waist of the deel, the traditional robe worn by both men and women.
Size: 7 1/2" x 17".

Item #ethn01
$150