Cameo Glass: Masterpieces from 2000 Years of Glassmaking
Not On View
Interpretive Notes
黑套粉红玻璃吉祥八宝纹鼻烟壶
The habit of taking snuff (inhaling powdered tobacco) spread to China from the West following the establishment of the Qing dynasty in 1644. While the smoking of tobacco was forbidden at that time, snuff was regarded as a remedy for a wide variety of diseases. Powdered tobacco and other Chinese medicines were dispensed in bottles rather than in boxes, as was customary in Europe. Snuff bottles were made of various materials, including hardstones, porcelain, ivory, and glass. The glass in many snuff bottles imitated semiprecious stones. Most of these bottles were oval with flattened sides, making them easy to carry. Small stoppers, often in contrasting colors, were attached to tiny spoons used for taking the snuff. The best bottles were carved, enameled, or painted on the inside with tiny landscapes, portraits, or inscriptions.
Physical DescriptionSnuff Bottle with Stopper. Black, opaque pink glass; blown, cased, cameo carved. (a) Ovoid form; pink overlay on black; flat rim with central opening for a stopper; short, spreading neck; rounded sides; the pink overlay carved in a series of symbols of “Ba Bao (Eight Treasures of the Buddha)”, including a wheel, a shell, an umbrella, a flag, a flower, a jar, a fish and a knot, standing in relief against the black surface; carved oval pink foot rim; paper label on the bottom, inscribed in ink "751". (b) Domed mottled green and white jade cap, mounted on a thin black plastic disk, tapered cork stopper, and slender brown-stained ivory spoon with oval spatulate bowl. Provenance
