A NOSE FOR LUXURY
Enjoying snuff was often seen as a mark of high status
This Chinese ivory snuff bottle, dating to the end of the 19th century, has been made into the shape of the fruit known as Buddha’s hand - a variety of citron called Foshou, said to resemble the hand of Buddha, as shown in statues and images. The Foshou tree has traditionally been sent as a gift during Chinese New Year. Snuff was a popular method of taking tobacco without smoking - it was finely ground and inhaled through the nostrils - and was extremely popular throughout the 18th century as a luxurious sign of refinement. It was also thought to have medical properties, but eventually fell out of fashion as other stimulants became more widespread.