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Snuff bottle

Snuff bottle

  • Place of origin:

    China (made)

  • Date:

    1750-1850 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    [Snuff bottle] Semi-opaque white glass with an overlay of red glass, carved in relief
    [Stopper] Sapphire or blue glass set in gilded metal

  • Credit Line:

    Salting Bequest

  • Museum number:

    C.1643&A-1910

  • 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 an elongated oval flattened flask form made of semi-opaque white glass with an overlay of red glass carved in relief. The dome-shaped stopper is made of sapphire or blue glass set in gilded metal.
The decoration depicts a Feng-huang (Chinese phoenix) and peonies. On the reverse there is a flying feng-huang and peonies.
The foot is formed by overlay with angular indentation underneath.
The carving is of good quality, and the elongated shape relatively unusual.

Place of Origin

China (made)

Date

1750-1850 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

[Snuff bottle] Semi-opaque white glass with an overlay of red glass, carved in relief
[Stopper] Sapphire or blue glass set in gilded metal

Dimensions

Height: 7.2 cm

Descriptive line

Semi-opaque white glass snuff bottle with stopper, with an overlay of red glass carved in relief, China, 1750-1850

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; Metal; Sapphire

Techniques

Carving; Gilding

Subjects depicted

Peony; Phoenix

Categories

Containers; Personal accessories; Glass

Collection code

EAS

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Qr_O8113
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