Snuff bottle, China, 1821-1895
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1821-1895
Snuff bottle, China, 1821-1895 is an object recorded by Victoria and Albert Museum, dated 1821-1895. The museum's brief description reads: Chinese snuff bottle, turquoise with coral and silver stopper, Qing Dynasty, 1821-1895.. Museum description: The bottle is a flattened heart form with short splayed cylindrical neck. It has a dome-shaped stopper in a large graduated mount. The bottle is made of turquoise; the stopper of coral set in silver. There is no foot and the base is very narrow and flat. The bottle does not stand up on its own. The distinctive shape is similar to that of C.1597-1910. The museum record gives place associated: China. These details come from the holding museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
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.
Historical context
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.
Technical characteristics
- Place recorded
- China
Identification
- Museum object name
- Snuff bottle
- Museum object number
- C.1591&A-1910
- Museum system number
- O8785
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 materials, dimensions, maker and wider type against the museum record and a specialist reference.