Snuff Container
Unknown Artist
late 1800s or early 1900s
Medium
Hide, earth, and blood
Dimensions
h. 8.8 cm
Classification
Vessels
Department
African Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Frank Herreman in memory of Hendrik and Marcelle Herreman
Accession Number
2016.60
About this artwork
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.