Cleveland Museum of Art

Snuff Container

Date

late 1800s or early 1900s

Medium

Hide, earth, and blood

Culture

Africa, Southern Africa, South Africa, Xhosa-style maker

Department

African Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Snuff containers made from a mixture of hide, earth, and blood constitute a very rare type of object in the artistic production of southern Africa. The specific gourdlike shape is an even more unusual occurrence. Its materials and purpose refer to the communication between animals and humans. The tobacco product snuff was stored in decorative, yet useful, containers like this one.

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