Snuff containers & pipes, made of many different
materials & forms, are objects of great elaboration
& ornamentation. Tobacco was smoked, snuffed,
& chewed. The tobacco snuff was often mixed with
ashes of other plants, minerals, & animal fats. This
intense mixture was taken rapidly to induce intoxication. While it may be a personal pastime for
some, tobacco in Africa is widely associated with
public ceremonies, social etiquette, & the recognition of rank differences. For example, it may be
used in greeting or as part of wedding ceremonies.
Snuff containers are still used by
diviners, as tobacco is a tool for
communicating with the ancestors.
It is used in divination to put the
diviner in contact with the spirits.
Width: 1 1/2" x Length: 7" - on a custom 2 1/2" square metal base it is 7" in height.
