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

Snuff Bottle

1750-1895 (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
Glass, semi opaque with an overlay of red glass carved in relief
Brief description
Glasssnuff bottle, semi opaque with an overlay of red glass carved in relief, China, ca.19th century
Physical description
The bottle is a rounded flattened flask form with no stopper.
It is made of glass, semi opaque with white specks and an overlay of red glass carved in relief.
The decoration is formed by a continuous design of pine, bamboo, prunus, another flowering plant and a winged insect.
The high straight foot is formed by overlay and there is an angular indentation underneath.
Pine, bamboo and prunus are often grouped together as a motif known as 'Three Winter Friends' since pine and bamboo are evergreen and prunus blossoms very early, before it sprouts leaves. (Krahl, 1987, p.25).
Dimensions
  • Height: 5.6cm
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.1667-1910

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Record createdJuly 3, 1998
Record URL
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