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Snuff bottle

Snuff bottle

  • Place of origin:

    China (made)

  • Date:

    1821-1850 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    [Snuff bottle] Porcelain with painted decoration in enamel colours
    [Stopper] Carnelian set in metal

  • Credit Line:

    Salting Bequest

  • Museum number:

    C.1694&A-1910

  • Gallery location:

    On Display

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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

Snuff bottle, porcelain painted in overglaze enamels.
[Snuff bottle] The bottle is a rounded flattened flask form. It is made of porcelain, painted in green, blue, pink, brown and black enamel colours.
The painted decoration depicts a bird in a pine tree looking down on a lion; magic fungus, rocks and a flowering plant. On the reverse there is a spotted deer, its hoof pointing towards the magic fungus; a tree and rocks; in the background a bush bearing pink berries.
There are masks and mock ring handles on the shoulders.
The high foot has a curved indentation underneath.
[Stopper] A dome-shaped stopper, made of carnelian set in metal.

Place of Origin

China (made)

Date

1821-1850 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

[Snuff bottle] Porcelain with painted decoration in enamel colours
[Stopper] Carnelian set in metal

Marks and inscriptions

[Snuff bottle] Daoguang (1821-1850) mark.

Dimensions

[Snuff bottle] Height: 5.8 cm

Descriptive line

Chinese snuff bottle, porcelain, painted decoration depicts animals, plants and trees, Qing Dynasty; 1821-1850.

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.

Production Note

The precise painting and the colour scheme of this bottle support the Daoguang dating of the mark.

Materials

Porcelain; Enamel; Metal; Carnelian

Techniques

Painting (image-making)

Subjects depicted

Bird; Lion; Rock; Deer; Pine; Magic fungus

Categories

Containers; Personal accessories

Collection code

EAS

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Qr_O8825
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