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Snuff bottle

Snuff bottle

  • Place of origin:

    China (made)

  • Date:

    1813-1861 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    [Stopper] Green glass set in metal
    [Snuff bottle] Carved nephrite jade

  • Credit Line:

    Salting Bequest

  • Museum number:

    C.1796&A-1910

  • Gallery location:

    In Storage

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Snuff is powdered tobacco, usually blended with aromatic herbs or spices. The habit of snuff-taking spread to China from the West during the 17th century and became established in the 18th century. People generally carried snuff in a small bottle. By the 20th century these bottles had become collectors' items, owing to the great variety of materials and decorative techniques used in their production.

Physical description

The bottle is a heavy rounded flattened flask form with a dome shaped stopper. It is made from grey nephrite jade with white skin heavily carved in relief. The stopper is of green glass set in metal. The inscription is incised and picked out with gold-coloured pigment. The He He Twins or 'Two Saints of Harmony' are depicted with baskets, bats and coins; between the boys a three legged toad and clouds; a rocky landscape on the side of the bottle and a poem of four seven-character lines (a quatrain) is inscribed on the reverse. The bottle does not have a foot but there is an irregular oval indentation underneath.
[Snuff bottle] The bottle is made of grey nephrite jade with a white skin and has been deeply carved with undercutting to form a design

Place of Origin

China (made)

Date

1813-1861 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

[Stopper] Green glass set in metal
[Snuff bottle] Carved nephrite jade

Dimensions

Height: 7.0 cm

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

White, Helen. Snuff Bottles from China. London: Bamboo Publishing Ltd in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1992. 291p., ill. ISBN 1870076109.

Materials

Glass; Metal; Nephrite

Techniques

Carving; Incising

Subjects depicted

Basket; Bat; Toad; Wealth; Coin; He He Twins

Categories

Containers; Personal accessories

Collection code

EAS

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Qr_O7377
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