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Snuff bottle

Snuff bottle

  • Place of origin:

    China (made)

  • Date:

    1750-1895 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Semi-transparent glass specked with white, with overlay of red glass, carved in relief

  • Credit Line:

    Salting Bequest

  • Museum number:

    C.1554-1910

  • 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 pear-shaped flattened flask form with no stopper.
It is made of semi-transparent glass specked with white, with overlay of red glass carved in relief.
The decoration depicts two chi dragons, their bodies curled round the bottle so that the head and forelegs of one and the tail of the other appear on each side.
The foot is formed by red glass overlay.

Place of Origin

China (made)

Date

1750-1895 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Semi-transparent glass specked with white, with overlay of red glass, carved in relief

Dimensions

Height: 6.0 cm

Descriptive line

Semi-transparent glass snuff bottle specked with white, with overlay of red glass, carved in relief, China, 1750-1895

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

Dragon

Categories

Containers; Personal accessories; Glass

Collection code

EAS

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Qr_O8114
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