Not currently on display at the V&A

Snuff Grater

ca. 1750 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
France (made)

This ivory snuff grater was made in France, probably Dieppe in about 1700-1730. 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".



Object details

Categories
Accessories
Personal Accessories
Smoking Accessories
Object type
Snuff grater
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Snuff-Grater
  • Fragment
Materials and techniques
Ivory and metal mounts; string
Ivory
Brief description
Snuff grater, ivory, lady in costume, French (probalby Dieppe), ca. 1700-1730.
Physical description
Ivory snuff grater in the form of a lady in costume depicted standing on a shell.
Dimensions
  • Height: 18.8cm
Credit line
Given by Mrs Ellen Hearn, Villa St Louis, Menton in 1923; this and other objects presented at the same time were labelled as the Alfred Williams Hearn gift.
Object history
Given by Mrs Ellen Hearn, Villa St Louis, Menton in 1923; this and other objects presented at the same time were labelled as the Alfred Williams Hearn gift.
Subject depicted
Lady
Summary
This ivory snuff grater was made in France, probably Dieppe in about 1700-1730. 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".

Bibliographic references
  • Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013 pp. 411, 412
  • Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013, pp. 411, 412, cat. no. 411
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
CIRC.488-1923

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O311021/snuff-grater-unknown/
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