Snuff Grater
ca. 1750 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This carved ivory snuff grater, made in about 1750 in France, probably Dieppe, depicts Cupid standing between two serpents and holding a dove in his left hand. On the cover a peacock stands between an open and closed flower.
A snuff rasp was used like a nutmeg grater for grating dried tobacco into snuff. A perforated metal section was fixed inside the ivory cover for grating. Snuff taking was a popular pastime in France for the wealthy and fashionable. There was the rumour that a regular dose of snuff would protect against the plague. The tobacco was grated from the solid tobacco roll known as a "carotte".
The ivory carving on these rasps is often rather crude, while the subjects depicted, often mythological figures, or exotic ladies, are typical of decorative objects made from a rare and costly material to be sold as luxury good.
A snuff rasp was used like a nutmeg grater for grating dried tobacco into snuff. A perforated metal section was fixed inside the ivory cover for grating. Snuff taking was a popular pastime in France for the wealthy and fashionable. There was the rumour that a regular dose of snuff would protect against the plague. The tobacco was grated from the solid tobacco roll known as a "carotte".
The ivory carving on these rasps is often rather crude, while the subjects depicted, often mythological figures, or exotic ladies, are typical of decorative objects made from a rare and costly material to be sold as luxury good.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Carved ivory |
| Brief description | Snuff grater, ivory, depicting Cupid between two serpents holding a dove, France (probably Dieppe), ca. 1750 |
| Physical description | Snuff-grater, carved ivory. A shallow trough narrowing towards one end, where it communicates by a hole with the inside of a cockle-shell carved in the round; at the other end a partition (in which is a hole closed by a tiny sliding door, now missing) forms a small shaped compartment to hold tobacco; this is closed by the loose flat cover. The trough has a narrow ridge down the cnetre and its edges are grooved to hold the metal grater (missing). On the other side is carved a symmetrical design of scrolling foliage and flowers, amid which, between two serpents, stands a Cupid holdinga dove in his raised left hand; above is a basket of flowers and fruit. On the cover is carved a peacock in his pride between an open and closed flower; above is a human face with rays representing the sun. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by J.H. Fitzhenry, Esq. |
| Object history | Given by J.H. Fitzhenry Esq., 25 Queen Anne’s Gate, London S.W. in 1902. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This carved ivory snuff grater, made in about 1750 in France, probably Dieppe, depicts Cupid standing between two serpents and holding a dove in his left hand. On the cover a peacock stands between an open and closed flower. A snuff rasp was used like a nutmeg grater for grating dried tobacco into snuff. A perforated metal section was fixed inside the ivory cover for grating. Snuff taking was a popular pastime in France for the wealthy and fashionable. There was the rumour that a regular dose of snuff would protect against the plague. The tobacco was grated from the solid tobacco roll known as a "carotte". The ivory carving on these rasps is often rather crude, while the subjects depicted, often mythological figures, or exotic ladies, are typical of decorative objects made from a rare and costly material to be sold as luxury good. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1422&A-1902 |
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| Record created | June 10, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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