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Snuff bottle

Snuff bottle

  • Place of origin:

    China (made)

  • Date:

    1750-1895 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    White jade carved in relief

  • Credit Line:

    Salting Bequest

  • Museum number:

    C.1915-1910

  • 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 in the form of a gourd without a stopper.
It is made of jade, white, carved in relief.
The bottle is encrusted with a carved vine and a butterfly.
It does not have a foot and does not stand upright.

Place of Origin

China (made)

Date

1750-1895 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

White jade carved in relief

Dimensions

Height: 5.1 cm

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

Jade

Techniques

Carving

Subjects depicted

Vines; Butterfly; Gourd

Categories

Containers; Personal accessories

Collection code

EAS

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Qr_O8406
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