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Snuff bottle

Snuff bottle

  • Place of origin:

    China (made)

  • Date:

    1736-1795 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    [Snuff bottle] Blue glass with inlay decoration of mother of pearl, lapis lazuli, jasper, amber and coral
    [Stopper] Carved coral and turquoise

  • Credit Line:

    Salting Bequest

  • Museum number:

    C.1573&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 monochrome glass and the style of the decoration both suggest an eighteenth century date.
[Snuff bottle] The bottle is a pear-shaped flattened flask form with a long slightly splayed cylindrical neck.
It is made of blue glass, with inlay decoration of mother-of-pearl, lapis lazuli, jasper, amber and coral. Depicted are a crane flying towards a pavilion which rests on a cloud which rises from the sea; a rising sun, rocks and clouds. On the reverse, is a fish among waves and rocks, spouting a pavilion which rests on a cloud issuing from the fish's mouth. A bat and clouds are also depicted..
The bottle has a foot and is solid underneath.
The sun rises in the East, so the decoration represents the Eastern Seas where the immortals live, and conveys a wish for long life.
[Stopper] The two-part dome-shaped stopper is made of coral and turquoise.

Place of Origin

China (made)

Date

1736-1795 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

[Snuff bottle] Blue glass with inlay decoration of mother of pearl, lapis lazuli, jasper, amber and coral
[Stopper] Carved coral and turquoise

Dimensions

Height: 7.0 cm

Object history note

Historical significance: This inlaid monochrome glass is comparable with inlaid ivory pieces datable to the eighteenth century.

Descriptive line

Snuff bottle, blue glass inlaid with coloured stones and pearl, China, 1736-1795.

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; Mother-of-pearl; Coral; Turquoise; Lapis lazuli; Jasper; Amber

Techniques

Carving; Inlay (process)

Subjects depicted

Fish; Clouds; Rock; Pavilion; Waves; Bat (animal); Crane (bird)

Categories

Containers; Personal accessories; Glass

Collection code

EAS

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Qr_O7913
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