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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] Carved agate
    [Stopper] Carnelian and turquoise set in gilded metal

  • Credit Line:

    Salting Bequest

  • Museum number:

    C.1810&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 in the form of a ten-sided disc. It has a flat stopper with slightly raised circular plug.
It is made of agate, honey colour, with a white area and a few dark brown inclusions. The stopper is of carnelian and turquoise set in gilded metal.
Each side of the bottle is faceted with a rosette design.
It has no foot but stands on the flat bottom surface of the decagon.
The plug of turquoise in the centre of the stopper almost flush with its surface is unusual, although the stopper of C.1714-1910 has a similarly shaped stopper with a plug of grey jade or chalcedony in the centre. This bottle is very similar to two bottles in rock crystal, C.1617 and C.1618-1910.

Place of Origin

China (made)

Date

1750-1895 (made)

Artist/maker

unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

[Snuff bottle] Carved agate
[Stopper] Carnelian and turquoise set in gilded metal

Dimensions

Height: 5.5 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

Metal; Turquoise; Agate; Carnelian

Techniques

Carving; Gilding

Subjects depicted

Rosette

Categories

Containers; Personal accessories

Collection code

EAS

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Qr_O8645
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