Saloon Snuff Bottle?

[Raceyb]

Saloon 'Snuff' Bottle?

i just bought this this weekend, and was told it was a snuff bottle used in a saloon. It has a pewter locking cap with original key, a huge deep open pontil, and was told it's 18th century French. I can't find anything similar online. Any ideas or knowledge on this bottle is greatly appreciated!

 

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[Mackaydon]

Welcome to Treasure Net !!
Is the locking cap a screw-on cap?
How does it attach to the bottle?
Any manufacturing marks on or inside the cap?
Don...

 

[Raceyb]

Hi Don, thanks for the welcome!
Yep, the locking cap is a screw on. It's a pewter Tom the internal cap is threaded into a recessed opening. The key threads into the cap and then pulls out the cork. I'll have to take more pics. No marks anywhere that i can see.

 

[kuger]

I have never seen snuff come in,or stored in a Bottle.....?There are glass snuff containers but they are square and squat

 

[surf]

The Right snuff! French Snuff Bottle Ca. 1750 | Cabinet of Curiosities

Hello Raceyb,

Is that your shop? I'm with kuger, in the not seeing that form as a snuff bottle department.

Can you remove that pewter business, and show the finish of the bottle, please? What are the dimensions?

 

[Raceyb]

hi Surf,
yes... that is my shop.
It doesn't make sense to me that this bottle would be a snuff bottle. I was against the story as soon as i heard it.
It's a good sized bottle... 16" high, 5 1/4" widest, and bottom is 4 1/2" wide. It weighs 7lbs.
I really appreciate the help. I would love to know what it was used for.

 

[surf]

It's a good sized bottle... 16" high, 5 1/4" widest, and bottom is 4 1/2" wide. It weighs 7lbs.
I really appreciate the help. I would love to know what it was used for.

Hey Racey,

The only thing I can tell you with certainty, is that it is not now, nor ever was a snuff. Is it a quart, litre, or greater in capacity?

Will the pewter cap not come off completely? I want to see the top of the glass. Can you tell if it has been cut? Am I seeing some glue residue beneath it?

The small opening in the pewter top would drastically diminish the flow, and suggests, to me, an aftermarket installation.

Would you take a perpendicular view of the bottle, so that I have a better idea of it's shape and size, please? If you can see the kickup in profile, that would also be helpful.

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