Cleveland Museum of Art

Snuff Container

Date

1800s–1900s

Medium

Wood, glass beads, shell, and cotton

Culture

Africa, Southern Africa, South Africa, Northern Nguni-style maker

Department

African Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

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. A man likely made the wooden container while a woman likely made the beaded attachment.

The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.