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Snuff bottle

Snuff bottle

  • Place of origin:

    China (made)

  • Date:

    1796-1850 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    [Snuff bottle] Glazed porcelain with decoration in coloured enamels
    [Stopper] Metal

  • Credit Line:

    Given by W. G. Gulland, Esq.

  • Museum number:

    150&STOPP-1905

  • Gallery location:

    Ceramics Study Galleries, Asia & Europe, room 137, case 14, shelf 8

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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 shaped in the form of a squirrel clutching a vine and has a cone-shaped stopper.
It is made of porcelain with a creamy white glaze and green, turquoise, purple, gold and black enamel colours. The stopper is made of metal and is decorated with two creatures, perhaps squirrels.
The neck of the bottle is coloured gold in imitation of a metal collar.
There is no foot and the bottle does not stand upright.
The colours and detailing of the enamels indicate a Jiaqing (1796-1820) or Daoguang (1821-50) date.

Place of Origin

China (made)

Date

1796-1850 (made)

Artist/maker

unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

[Snuff bottle] Glazed porcelain with decoration in coloured enamels
[Stopper] Metal

Dimensions

[Snuff bottle] Height: 8.0 cm

Descriptive line

Chinese snuff bottle, Qing dynasty; 1796-1850; porcelain with decoration in coloured enamels.

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

Porcelain; Enamel; Metal

Techniques

Glazing (coating)

Subjects depicted

Vine; Animal; Squirrel

Categories

Containers; Ceramics; Personal accessories

Collection code

EAS

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Qr_O8942
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