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 cylindrical form with a very short flared neck and no stopper.
It is made of porcelain, with decoration in underglaze blue.
The decoration depicts two dragons, with clouds and waves, chasing a flaming pearl.
The receding foot, unlglazed at the edge, has a curved indentation underneath containing a mark of a dragon in underglaze blue.
The wide flat neck surface suggests a purpose-made snuff bottle.
Place of Origin
China (made)
Date
1796-1900 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown
Materials and Techniques
Porcelain, with decoration in underglaze blue
Marks and inscriptions
dragon
Dimensions
Height: 7.9 cm
Descriptive line
Chinese snuff bottle, 1796-1900, Qing dynasty; porcelain, with decoration in underglaze blue depicting dragons.
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)
Subjects depicted
Pearl; Wave; Dragon; Flame; Clouds
Categories
ELISE; Containers; Personal accessories; Ceramics
Collection
East Asia Collection