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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 brown inclusions and decoration carved in relief
    [Stopper] Carved coral and white glass

  • Credit Line:

    Salting Bequest

  • Museum number:

    C.1836&A-1910

  • Gallery location:

    In store

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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 an oval flattened flask form with a two-part stopper.
It is made of chalcedony, tawny yellow and grey with brown inclusions, with decoration carved in relief. The stopper of white glass and carved coral.
The carved decoration depicts three birds and a lotus. There is a lotus and a flying bird on the reverse and on the stopper a woman's head with mid-nineteenth century European hairstyle.
The high foot has angular indentation underneath.
The carved coral stopper is unusual.

Place of Origin

China (made)

Date

1750-1895 (made)

Artist/maker

unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

[Snuff bottle] Chalcedony, with brown inclusions and decoration carved in relief
[Stopper] Carved coral and white glass

Dimensions

Height: 5.4 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

Glass; Coral; Chalcedony

Techniques

Carving

Subjects depicted

Woman; Bird; Lotus

Categories

Containers; Personal accessories

Collection code

FEC

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Qr_O8503
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