{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O8749"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O8749/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MW4423/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MW4423/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021MW4423","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AH0256","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O8749/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O8749","accessionNumber":"C.1630-1910","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":"The bottle is an oval flattened flask form with a flat-topped stopper.\r\nThe bottle is made of rock crystal, with decoration carved in relief; the stopper of rock crystal with carved decoration.\r\nThe carved relief depicts two chi dragons on each side. There are masks and mock ring handles on the shoulders with stylised scroll and dot motifs below. There is a carved chi dragon on the stopper.\r\nThe straight foot has an angular indentation underneath.\r\nThe design on the stopper strongly suggests that it was specifically made for this bottle. The decorative motifs are archaistic, imitating those found on early bronzes. This and the striking similarity in shape and design to the jade bottle, C.1799-1910, suggest a relatively early date.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"rock crystal","id":"AAT11152"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Carved rock crystal","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":["2021MW4423","2006AH0256"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES363113"},"free":"","case":"","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":"1780-1820","earliest":"1780-01-01","latest":"1820-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Salting Bequest","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"5.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"bottle only","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.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Chinese snuff bottle, carved rock crystal, decoration depicts two chi dragons on each side, Qing Dynasty; 1796-1820.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"White, Helen. <font -u>Snuff Bottles from China</font>. London: Bamboo Publishing Ltd in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1992. 291p., ill. ISBN 1870076109."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"dragon","id":"x30096"},{"text":"mask","id":"x30067"},{"text":"scroll","id":"AAT10094"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["C.1630-1910"],"accessionNumberNum":"1630","accessionNumberPrefix":"C","accessionYear":1910,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-29","recordCreationDate":"1998-08-05","availableToBook":true}}