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Snuff bottle

Snuff bottle

  • Place of origin:

    China (made)

  • Date:

    1750-1900 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Opaque white glass, with overlay of red glass, carved in relief

  • Credit Line:

    Boone Bequest

  • Museum number:

    920-1903

  • 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 round flattened flask form without a stopper.
It is made of opaque white glass, with overlay of red glass carved in relief.
The decoartion depicts peonies, and bamboo growing from a rock. On the reverse there is feng-huang (Chinese phoenix) standing on rocks, with clouds and two bats overhead.
The foot is formed by an overlay; there is an indentation and red seepage underneath.

Place of Origin

China (made)

Date

1750-1900 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Opaque white glass, with overlay of red glass, carved in relief

Dimensions

Height: 6.0 cm

Descriptive line

Snuff bottle, opaque white glass, with overlay of red glass, carved 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

Subjects depicted

Rock; Bamboo; Bat

Categories

Containers; Personal accessories; Glass

Collection code

EAS

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Qr_O8029
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