Kevin Au has such a diverse array of interests, it’s difficult to hold a conversation with him on just one of his hobbies.

When he’s not traveling, the semiretired real estate investor from Kahala is busy collecting all kinds of curios, large and small, from snuff bottles and designer T-shirts to ceramic Christmas castles, exotic plants, Asian art and antiques.

Au, 53, also renovates historic estates and coordinates filming at the properties for such shows as CBS’ "Hawaii Five-0."

The snuff bottles, however, hold a special place in his heart. The first one he ever set eyes on was 20 years ago at an antique shop in Hong Kong, where his wife, Lilian, is from.

As Au tells it, the bottle sat dusty and neglected on a shelf. It had a dragon painted on it and a price tag of only $2. When he opened it, the spoon attached to the cap still had a little snuff on it. He said he felt sad at seeing the forlorn bottle, "and I had to have it."

Asian snuff bottles were used to carry powdered tobacco. They are described by the International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society as "the Chinese equivalent of the snuff boxes that evolved in the Western world."

The bottles became a status symbol, and many of the finest examples are found in museums and private collections throughout the world.

Au’s current collection of about 100 bottles, amassed over two decades, has pieces dating from as early as the 18th century. Two of the contemporary ones, with a goldfish motif, symbolic of good luck, were picked up on a recent trip to Hong Kong.

Measuring no more than 3 inches tall, most of his bottles are made of glass or porcelain, some of precious stones. A number of them are painted on the inside.

Collecting snuff bottles is fun, according to Au, and, for the most part, inexpensive. When he first started, he was paying about $5 to $10 apiece. Now they are worth five to 10 times that, most averaging at least $100 in value. The more sought-after ones can fetch up to $5,000 or more.

Au hunts for them mostly through other collectors, estate sales or antique shops in Hong Kong and China, which he’s visited more than 100 times. But he won’t buy just any snuff bottle, which some say can carry remnants of past owners’ misfortune. For that reason, he declined an offer to purchase a bottle that had belonged to the seller’s ex-wife.

Another time, he accepted one as a gift and then experienced a spate of bad luck. Suspecting the bottle was responsible, but unable to remember which one it was, Au’s wife had him get his entire collection blessed by a priest.

Curiously enough, his luck turned around after the blessing. Since then Au has been careful not to accept free snuff bottles but will continue to collect them.

"A lot of times it’s impulsive, and that’s why I keep getting them," he said. "It’s the adventure and the fine art of acquisition that excites me."

Possessed is an occasional series featuring Hawaii residents and their unique or fascinating collections. Tell us about your collection by emailing features@star­advertiser.com or call 529-4892.