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Snuff bottle

Snuff bottle

  • Place of origin:

    China (made)

  • Date:

    1750-1895 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    [Snuff bottle] Semi-opaque white glass with an overlay of red glass, carved in relief
    [Stopper] Coral and turquoise

  • Credit Line:

    Salting Bequest

  • Museum number:

    C.1638&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 oval flattened flask form made of semi-opaque white glass suffused with bubbles. It has an overlay of red glass carved in relief.
The two-part dome shaped stopper is made of coral and turquoise.
The decoration depicts a continuous design of a vine bearing small fruits.
The high foot formed is by the overlay, with angular indentation underneath.
The dome of stopper is formed from half a coral bead. There are the remains of snuff inside the bottle.

Place of Origin

China (made)

Date

1750-1895 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

[Snuff bottle] Semi-opaque white glass with an overlay of red glass, carved in relief
[Stopper] Coral and turquoise

Dimensions

Height: 5.7 cm

Descriptive line

Semi-opaque white glass snuff bottle and stopper, with an 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; Coral; Turquoise

Techniques

Carving

Subjects depicted

Fruit; Vines

Categories

Containers; Personal accessories; Glass

Collection code

EAS

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Qr_O8174
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