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Snuff bottle

Snuff bottle

  • Place of origin:

    China (made)

  • Date:

    1796-1850 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Copper with cloisonné enamel decoration

  • Credit Line:

    Witting Bequest

  • Museum number:

    M.62-1934

  • 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 broad heart-shaped flattened flask form curving to a narrow base.
It is made of copper with cloisonné enamel decoration in light blue, dark blue, pink, red, yellow, black and white; brass rims and masks.
The decoration depicts a stylized lotus flower with tendrils in colours on a light blue ground; same design on the reverse; scale pattern border in copper wire around the neck; masks on the shoulders with holes for hanging.
High straight foot with high indentation underneath.

Place of Origin

China (made)

Date

1796-1850 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Copper with cloisonné enamel decoration

Dimensions

Height: 6.5 cm

Descriptive line

Chinese snuff bottle, 1796-1850, Qing dynasty; copper with cloisonné enamel decoration depicting a lotus flower.

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

Enamel; Copper

Techniques

Cloisonne

Subjects depicted

Mask; Lotus

Categories

Containers; Personal accessories

Collection code

EAS

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Qr_O9124
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