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 pear-shaped vase form with no stopper. It is made of porcelain, glazed in blue, with decoration moulded in relief showing as white through the glaze. The decoration depicts two clumps of lotus flowers. The high foot is solid and unglazed underneath. Probably an adapted miniature bottle. Place of Origin China (made) Date ca. 1700 (made) Artist/maker Unknown Materials and Techniques Porcelain with moulded and glazed decoration Dimensions Height: 6.4 cm Descriptive line Chinese snuff bottle, ca. 1700, Qing dynasty; porcelain, with moulded decoration depicting lotus flowers. 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 Porcelain Techniques Glazing (coating); Moulding Subjects depicted Lotus Categories ELISE; Containers; Personal accessories; Ceramics Collection East Asia Collection
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 pear-shaped vase form with no stopper. It is made of porcelain, glazed in blue, with decoration moulded in relief showing as white through the glaze. The decoration depicts two clumps of lotus flowers. The high foot is solid and unglazed underneath. Probably an adapted miniature bottle. Place of Origin China (made) Date ca. 1700 (made) Artist/maker Unknown Materials and Techniques Porcelain with moulded and glazed decoration Dimensions Height: 6.4 cm Descriptive line Chinese snuff bottle, ca. 1700, Qing dynasty; porcelain, with moulded decoration depicting lotus flowers. 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 Porcelain Techniques Glazing (coating); Moulding Subjects depicted Lotus Categories ELISE; Containers; Personal accessories; Ceramics Collection East Asia Collection