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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] Chalcedony, with dark brown inclusions and carved decoration
    [Stopper] Lapis lazuli and coral

  • Credit Line:

    Salting Bequest

  • Museum number:

    C.1750&A-1910

  • Gallery location:

    In store

  • Download image

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 a flattened flask form, rectangular with curved corners. It has a two-part stopper, flat with a finial.
The bottle is made of chalcedony, pale grey with dark brown inclusions and carved decoration. The stopper is of lapis lazuli and coral.
The decoration depicts a boy standing amid rocks holding a three-legged toad and a string of coins. Also shown are a dog and a bird. On the reverse there are rocks, magic fungus, a pine tree and an inscription (a line of poetry).
The bottle does not have a foot but instead a flat base.
The boy with the toad and string of coins is Liu Hai, a wealth symbol; pine, magic fungus and rocks convey a wish for long life.

Place of Origin

China (made)

Date

1750-1895 (made)

Artist/maker

unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

[Snuff bottle] Chalcedony, with dark brown inclusions and carved decoration
[Stopper] Lapis lazuli and coral

Dimensions

Diameter: 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

Coral; Chalcedony; Lapis-lazuli

Techniques

Carving

Subjects depicted

Bird; Boys; Rock; Dog (animal); Pine; Magic fungus; Coins; Toad (amphibian); Liu Hai

Categories

Containers; Personal accessories

Collection code

FEC

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Qr_O8424
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