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
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Snuff Bottle
  • Stopper
Brief description
Scu, China, carving, chalcedony

Scu, China, carving, chalcedony
Physical description
The bottle is a rounded flattened flask form, curving gently to a narrow base; the neck is long in relation to the size of the bottle. It has a two-part dome-shaped stopper.
It is made of chalcedony, mushroom coloured with dark brown inclusions, with decoration carved in very low relief. The stopper of turquoise and amethyst.
The carved relief depicts a catfish. On the reverse is plain except where the craftsman has used dark brown inclusions to depict lotus and a bubble.
The bottle has a flat oval base and no foot.
The inclusions determine the placing of the carved decoration.
Dimensions
  • Height: 5.7cm
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.1764&A-1910

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Record createdJuly 22, 1998
Record URL
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