Chinese snuff bottle, 1850-1911, Qing dynasty; porcelain, with painted decoration depicting a fire-breathing mythical beast
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1850-1911
The bottle is a cylindrical form with no stopper. It is made of porcelain, with a crackled cream ground, painted in purple, green, red and blue. The decoration depicts a fire-breathing mythical creature.
The receding foot is unglazed at the edge, with a glazed 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 8.1 cm
- Materials and techniques
- Porcelain, with painted decoration
Technical characteristics
- Place recorded
- China
Identification
- Candidate id
- vam-O9041
- Museum object number
- CIRC.708-1931
- 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.