Topic: Antique perfume holders from Murano ??

[Andreadb]

Hello All,
I have this small collection of what I have interpreted as perfume/salts holders, all made of glass: I have also heard different opinions stating that these are for snuff tobacco. Considering the presence of murrine, avventurina and the other typically Venetian techniques, I am very inclined to believe them to be made in Murano.
They are quite small: the biggest is approx 11 cm tall.
However, I'd like help to answer some questions:
- What are they? For perfume, tobacco or what?
- What is their age? They seem quite old to me, probably XIX century?
I have done some research, but I have not found any similar item on the net; can somebody give me better information than my guesswork?
Thank you !!
Andrea

[NevB]

I think they are for snuff as the stoppers do not look secure enough to hold liquid and they look like the stoppers on other snuff bottles. I cannot find anything like them but I agree they are most likely from Murano but possibly mid 20th century. The curl on the end reminds me of the "snuff mulls" made from horns.

[Andreadb]

Thank you NevB,
You are definitely right in observing that the caps are not suitable for liquids, I had not thought about that!! So snuff boxes they quite certainly are.
But on what are you basing your dating at mid 20th century? I had a feeling they are older considering the relatively "rough" quality of manufacture.
Regards
Andrea

[NevB]

It was just a guess from the patterns on them that they are later, it is difficult to tell without handling them. I'm not an expert on Murano.