Snuff bottle, glass painted in coloured enamels, Beijing, China, Qing dynasty, Qianlong reign period, 1736-1795

Snuff bottle, flattened octagonal flask with a curved oval panel on each side, cylindrical neck, no foot but with faceted indentation underneath. Opaque white glass painted in blue, red, green, purple, brown and black enamels with two figures walking in a landscape with a building, pine trees and a mountain in a distance; on the reverse with the same building and a figure standing by pine trees with mountains in a distance; faceted sides painted with formal rosettes in red on a blue ground. Dome-shaped coral stopper set in metal with incised decoration.

Salting Bequest

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.

The style and high quality of the landscapes strongly suggest that this bottle was made during the Qianlong period (1736-95). The enamelling is worn on the reverse and on the angles of the faceted side surfaces.

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.

C.1583&A-1910