Title
Four-colour overlay glass snuff bottle
Year/Period
1800 - 1880
Region
China
Object Type
snuff bottles
Material
glass (material)
Technique
glassworking
Dimension
Object size: 7.2 x 5 x 3.5 cm
Accession No.
2013-00434
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Doris and Franklin Chow in honour of Dr. Kenson Kwok, Founding Director of ACM
NLB Type
Ceramic
The production of snuff bottles arose in the early Qing dynasty (1644–1911), and developed into one of the most significant aspects of Chinese decorative arts as the habit of taking snuff grew. Snuff (powdered tobacco mixed with aromatic substances) was believed to have medicinal properties and was used as a remedy for colds and headaches, among other symptoms. The bubble-suffused glass body of this snuff bottle is overlaid on each side with fruits in red, orange and green on leafy stems, issuing from blue rocks around the foot.
