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Snuff bottle

Snuff bottle

  • Place of origin:

    China (made)

  • Date:

    1750-1820 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    [Snuff bottle] Carved and gilded steatite
    [Stopper] Possibly horn

  • Credit Line:

    Salting Bequest

  • Museum number:

    C.1719-1910

  • 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 flattened flask form with a pierced openwork outer casing. The flat shallow stopper screws into the neck.
The bottle is made of steatite, pinkish orange, with carved decoration and gilding. The stopper perhaps of horn, pale brown.
On each side, there is a cloud collar or lappet motif and clouds with an over pierced diaper pattern. On each shoulder a beaked bird mask extending into decorative handles which curve to the base. There are gilded waves on the shoulder surfaces and gilded scroll borders around the neck and foot.
The high foot is solid underneath.
The style and complexity of this bottle is unusual as is the screw fitting of the stopper.

Place of Origin

China (made)

Date

1750-1820 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

[Snuff bottle] Carved and gilded steatite
[Stopper] Possibly horn

Dimensions

Height: 3.7 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

Horn; Steatite

Techniques

Carving; Gilding

Subjects depicted

Bird; Scroll; Diaper; Cloud; Wave

Categories

Containers; Personal accessories

Collection code

EAS

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Qr_O8640
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