Snuff bottle, faceted agate, China, 1750-1895
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1750-1895
People generally carried snuff in a small bottle. The bottle is in the form of a ten-sided disc. It has a flat stopper with slightly raised circular plug. It is made of agate, honey colour, with a white area and a few dark brown inclusions. The stopper is of carnelian and turquoise set in gilded metal. Each side of the bottle is faceted with a rosette design. It has no foot but stands on the flat bottom surface of the decagon.
The plug of turquoise in the centre of the stopper almost flush with its surface is unusual, although the stopper of C.1714-1910 has a similarly shaped stopper with a plug of grey jade or chalcedony in the centre. This bottle is very similar to two bottles in rock crystal, C.1617 and C.1618-1910. Bequeathed by Mr. George Salting, accessioned in 1910.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- 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
- Material
- agate, carnelian, turquoise, gilded metal
- Dimensions
- Height: 5.5 cm
Technical characteristics
- Place recorded
- China
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Victoria and Albert Museum, London collection record for this single object (sentences kept verbatim apart from removed sale or rarity wording); how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Candidate id
- vam-O8645
- Museum object name
- Snuff bottle
- Holding institution
- Victoria and Albert Museum, London
- Museum object number
- C.1810&A-1910
- Museum system number
- O8645
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, maker and dating against a specialist reference; this entry documents one recorded example.