Snuff Bottle
1750-1880 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
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.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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Materials and techniques | Glass, coloured and carved |
Brief description | Snuff bottle, glass, coloured and carved, China, 1750-1880 |
Physical description | The bottle is a flattened pear form made of opaque blue glass. Only the base, cork and spoon of the stopper remain. The bottle has a flat base without a foot. The decorative effect of this bottle lies in the elegant form and pleasing colour. The shape is similar to that of two Daoguang period (1821-1850) enamelled porcelain bottles, 4836-1901 and 914-1903. |
Style | |
Object history | Purchased from Dr. S. W. Bushell, accessioned in 1883. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. Bought, Dr S. W. Bushell, N.B.M. Legation, Pekin;; |
Summary | 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. |
Bibliographic reference | White, Helen. Snuff Bottles from China. London: Bamboo Publishing Ltd in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1992. 291p., ill. ISBN 1870076109. |
Collection | |
Accession number | 126-1883 |
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Record created | June 10, 1998 |
Record URL |
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