{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O8517"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O8517/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU9539/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU9539/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AU9539","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O8517/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O8517","accessionNumber":"C.1798-1910","objectType":"Snuff bottle","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"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.","physicalDescription":"Snuff bottle, rounded flattened flask with an angular indentation underneath. Made of chalcedony, honey colour shading to grey with brown inclusions, carved in relief a bear with an eagle on its back, on the reverse there is a cat looking up at butterflies and a cloud motif. On the sides, rocks and magic fungus. Dome-shaped coral stopper set in metal.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"chalcedony","id":"AAT11134"},{"text":"coral","id":"AAT11800"},{"text":"metal","id":"AAT10900"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Chalcedony, carved. Coral stopper set in metal","categories":[{"text":"ELISE","id":"THES48961"},{"text":"Containers","id":"THES48972"},{"text":"Personal accessories","id":"THES48912"}],"styles":[{"text":"Qing","id":"AAT18478"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2006AU9539"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"44 (VA)","id":"THES49802"},"free":"","case":"CA48","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"SNUFF BOTTLE AND STOPPER","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"China","id":"x29398"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1750-1895","earliest":"1750-01-01","latest":"1895-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Salting Bequest","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"5.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Bequeathed by Mr. George Salting, accessioned in 1910. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.\nThe brown inclusions determine the placing of the carved decoration.  The bear, <font i>xiong</font>, and eagle, <font i>ying</font>, make a pun on the word for 'hero'.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Snuff bottle, carved chalcedony, China, Qing dynasty, 1800-1900","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"White, Helen. <font -u>Snuff Bottles from China</font>. London: Bamboo Publishing Ltd in association with the Victoria & Albert Museum, 1992. pp. 50-51, plate 18."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"bear","id":"x29380"},{"text":"eagle (bird)","id":"x30166"},{"text":"cat","id":"x30168"},{"text":"butterfly","id":"x30161"},{"text":"magic fungus","id":"x36035"},{"text":"rock","id":"AAT11692"},{"text":"cloud","id":"x35718"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Snuff bottle \r\nQing dynasty\r\n1800-1900\r\n\r\nThe combination of the bear and the eagle makes a pun on the word 'hero'. This bottle was intended as a gift to a man. \r\n\r\nCarved chalcedony\r\n\r\nSalting Bequest\r\nMuseum no. C.1798-1910","date":{"text":"2009","earliest":"2009-01-01","latest":"2009-12-31"}},{"text":"C1798-1910\r\nRounded flattened flask form; dome-shaped stopper with finger indentations in either side.\r\nChalcedony, mushroom colour shading to grey with dark brown inclusions, with carved details; stopper of coral set in brass.\r\nDog with a large bird (probably an eagle) on its back; on reverse a cat looking up at butterflies and a cloud motif; on sides, rocks and magic fungus.\r\nThe dark brown inclusions determine the placing of the carved decoration.\r\nNo footrim; angular indentation underneath.\r\n1750-1910\r\nH. 5.2cm\r\nSalting Bequest.","date":{"text":"pre 2005","earliest":null,"latest":"2004-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["C.1798-1910"],"accessionNumberNum":"1798","accessionNumberPrefix":"C","accessionYear":1910,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-29","recordCreationDate":"1998-07-24","availableToBook":false}}