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

Snuff Bottle

1750-1850 (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
Semi opaque white glass with an overlay of red glass, carved in relief, with jade stopper
Brief description
Snuff bottle, semi opaque white glass with an overlay of red glass, carved in relief. Jade stopper, China, 1750-1850
Physical description
The bottle is an elongated flattened pear form made of semi-opaque white glass, with an overlay of red glass, carved in relief. The stopper is irregular, flat-topped and made of green and white jadeite jade.
The decoration depicts fish on waves spouting a pavilion, with two bats above, the design enclosed within a pear-shaped border. There is a similar design on the reverse.
The bottle has a rounded base which stands on floral motif with four petals carved in clear glass.
Dimensions
  • Height: 8.1cm
Style
Credit line
Salting Bequest
Object history
Bequeathed by Mr. George Salting, accessioned in 1910. 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
C.1644-1910

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Record createdJune 18, 1998
Record URL
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