Snuff Bottle thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Snuff Bottle

1796-1850 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

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.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Snuff Bottle
  • Stopper
Brief description
Chinese snuff bottle, 1796-1850, Qing dynasty; copper with cloisonné enamel decoration depicting an Ogre mask.
Physical description
The bottle is a flattened ovoid form; the neck-hole is wide in relation to the size of the bottle. It has a dome-shaped stopper.
It is made of copper with cloisonné enamel decoration in blue, green, red, yellow and white; stopper of opaque glass in imitation of coral set in metal.
The decoration depicts an Ogre mask with the character 'wang', 'king', in blue between the eyes; the same design is on the reverse with variation in the colours used, the character 'wang being in red; lappet motif around the neck.
High foot on exposed copper ring with high indentation underneath.
Style
Credit line
Given by H. H. Joseph, Esq.
Subjects depicted
Summary
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.
Collection
Accession number
M.16-1918

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Record createdSeptember 26, 1998
Record URL
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