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Snuff bottle

Snuff bottle

  • Place of origin:

    China (made)

  • Date:

    1750-1900 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Apple green glass with an overlay of pink glass carved in relief

  • Credit Line:

    Boone Bequest

  • Museum number:

    919-1903

  • 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 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.

Place of Origin

China (made)

Date

1750-1900 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Apple green glass with an overlay of pink glass carved in relief

Dimensions

Height: 6.4 cm

Descriptive line

Snuff bottle, apple green glass with an overlay of pink glass acrved in relief, China, ca. 19th century

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

Techniques

Carving; Incising

Subjects depicted

Bird; Bamboo

Categories

Containers; Personal accessories; Glass

Collection code

EAS

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Qr_O7931
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