Snuff Bottle thumbnail 1
Snuff Bottle thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Snuff Bottle

1750-1900 (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
Materials and techniques
Apple green glass with an overlay of pink glass carved in relief
Brief description
Snuff bottle, apple green glass with an overlay of pink glass acrved in relief, China, ca. 19th century
Physical description
The bottle is a rounded flattened flask form without a stopper.
It is made of apple green glass, with an overlay of pink glass carved in relief.
The decoration depicts a feng-huang (Chinese phoenix) and bamboo. On the reverse there are two birds and a pine tree. Masks and mock ring handles are carved on the shoulders.
The high splayed foot is formed by a pink glass overlay, with indentation underneath.
The detailing on the overlay is crudely incised.
Dimensions
  • Height: 6.4cm
Style
Gallery label
.
Credit line
Boone Bequest
Object history
Bequeathed by Mr. Thomas Boone, per Mrs. Temple (24 Ulster Place, Regents Park.), accessioned in 1903. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Subjects depicted
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
919-1903

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Record createdJune 12, 1998
Record URL
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