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 bottle gourd form with no stopper.
It is made of porcelain, painted in underglaze blue and red.
The decoration depicts a carp among waves in two bands, one on each section of the gourd, enclosed by blue lines.
There is no foot and the base is unglazed with a circular indentation and ridges.
Place of Origin
China (made)
Date
1660-1680 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown
Materials and Techniques
Porcelain, with decoration painted in underglaze
Dimensions
Height: 6.9 cm
Descriptive line
Chinese snuff bottle, 1660-1680, Qing dynasty; porcelain with decoration painted in underglaze depicting a carp among waves.
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.
Production Note
The early date of this bottle makes it unlikely to have been originally made to hold snuff, but it was described as a snuff bottle on its transfer to the Museum from the Museum of Practical geology in 1901 and may well have been used as such during its history.
Materials
Porcelain
Techniques
Glazing (coating)
Subjects depicted
Gourd; Carp (fish); Wave
Categories
ELISE; Containers; Personal accessories
Collection
East Asia Collection