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Snuff bottle

Snuff bottle

  • Place of origin:

    China (made)

  • Date:

    1760-1812 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    [Stopper] Blue and pink glass, coloured to immitate rose quartz
    [Snuff bottle] Pale and dark grey nephrite jade, carved in relief

  • Credit Line:

    Salting Bequest

  • Museum number:

    C.1802&A-1910

  • Gallery location:

    On Display

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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 an oval flattened flask form carved in relief from pale and dark grey nephrite jade with a dome shaped stopper of blue and pink glass coloured to immitate rose quartz.
The decoration depicts a boy riding a buffalo through a rocky place followed by a man with a stick over his shoulder. Also depicted are three sheep. There is an inscirption on the reverse. The dark layer of jade is used effectively for the focal points of the carved decoration and the bottle has a very glassy finish.

Place of Origin

China (made)

Date

1760-1812 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

[Stopper] Blue and pink glass, coloured to immitate rose quartz
[Snuff bottle] Pale and dark grey nephrite jade, carved in relief

Marks and inscriptions

'Su Wu fang yang' 'Su Wu tending sheep'

Dimensions

Height: 6.0 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; Nephrite

Techniques

Carving

Subjects depicted

Boy; Sheep; Buffalo; Su Wu

Categories

Containers; Personal accessories

Collection code

EAS

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Qr_O7378
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