Ivory snuff bottle

Snuff - the powdered form of tobacco - was kept in a small bottle. This is a fine ivory snuff bottle of cylindrical form.

Carved around the sides in relief are the Eight Immortals. There is a spoon fixed to the stopper, and after snuffing, it was returned to the flask.

Snuff taking was considered to be medicinal and health-giving. It gained both court and popular acceptance in Qing China. Snuffing was extremely popular in the court of the Kangxi emperor. It later spread to the south to become a nationwide habit.

Record details

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Online ID:	000-100-103-451-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland A.1967.449
Date:	19th century 19th century AD
Material:	Ivory
Dimensions:	82 mm H x 45 mm W x 35 mm D
What:	Snuff bottle
Subject:	Snuff bottles
Who:	Eight Taoist Immortals
Where:	China
Event:
Description:	Snuff bottle of ivory, carved in fine relief with scenes of the Eight Taoist Immortals: China, 19th century AD
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