Collection record · Objects & craft
Snuff Container
The collection record classifies this work as vessels. It is dated 1800s–1900s. Recorded culture or place: Africa, Southern Africa, South Africa, Northern Nguni-style maker.
Explore the object recordOBJECT RECORD
A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Snuff Container
- Date
- 1800s–1900s
- Culture / origin
- Africa, Southern Africa, South Africa, Northern Nguni-style maker
- Materials and technique
- Wood, glass beads, shell, and cotton
- Dimensions
- Overall: 20.3 cm (8 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 2010.201
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
Combining beauty and functionality, this finely carved wooden snuff container is adorned with twisted strands of colorful glass beads. Once an object of status, it signaled the wealth and taste of its owner. Its general shape and the parallel ridges appear to be the skillful imitation of a fruit. Throughout southern Africa and elsewhere on the continent, smoking tobacco and taking snuff are enjoyed as activities that enhance positive social relationships. Both men and women wore these personal and portable objects attached to cloaks, carried in bags, or adorning the neck, arm, or waist.
FOLLOW THE SOURCE
Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
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