Chinese snuff bottle; 1796-1909, Qing Dynasty; porcelain with painted black ground and painted decoration.
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1796-1909
The bottle is a cylindrical form without a stopper. It is made of porcelain, painted with a black ground, with the design left white and the details line-painted in purple.
The decoration depicts two officals on horseback followed by an attendant. There is no foot and the body of the bottle splays slightly at the base. There is an indentation underneath. 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.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 2
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Dimensions
- Height 8.2 cm
- Materials and techniques
- Porcelain with painted decoration
Technical characteristics
- Place recorded
- China
Identification
- Candidate id
- vam-O8949
- Museum object number
- C.1693-1910
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked single-object source. Wider type attribution and authenticity have not been independently verified.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type and source attribution against specialist references.