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Snuff bottle

Snuff bottle

  • Place of origin:

    China (made)

  • Date:

    1780-1895 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    [Snuff bottle] Chalcedony and agate carved in relief
    [Stopper] Green glass set in metal

  • Credit Line:

    Salting Bequest

  • Museum number:

    C.1784&A-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 a squarish flattened flask form curving inwards slightly at the base and with rounded shoulders. It has an irregular dome-shaped stopper.
The bottle is made of chalcedony and agate, brown with a greyish white area and dark brown skin, carved in relief. The stopper is of green glass set in metal.
The carved relief depicts two horses, one with its head down; the other with its head turned back and one hoof raised. There is an inscription reading 'Envy their friendship in enjoying a drink at a running brook'.
The foot has an indentation underneath.
The dark brown skin is used for the carving of horses and the inscription; there is little background carving and the reverse is left plain.

Place of Origin

China (made)

Date

1780-1895 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

[Snuff bottle] Chalcedony and agate carved in relief
[Stopper] Green glass set in metal

Marks and inscriptions

'Envy their friendship in enjoying a drink at a running brook'.

Dimensions

Height: 5.6 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; Metal; Chalcedony; Agate

Techniques

Carving

Subjects depicted

Horse (animal)

Categories

Containers; Personal accessories

Collection code

EAS

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Qr_O8528
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