This snuff container is a flawlessly-executed ovoid with smooth, evenly faceted sides – an outstanding example of the refined, abstract style seen in many objects from southern Africa. Its lustrous, dark, chamfered surface recalls a seed-like shape. Fashioned from animal horn, it is both a pleasure for the eye and a tactile delight when handled. Balanced on a slightly truncated base, matched at its top end by a similarly flattened surface, and sealed with a small hemispherical stopper, the final silhouette is one of consummate elegance. A small aperture halfway down one side (not visible in the image) has been drilled, through which a cord or thong was threaded so that it could be worn around the neck. Beyond its southern African provenance it is a challenge to pinpoint a more precise place of origin.

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