Tobacco jar carved in the form of human skull and snake

Tobacco jar, wood carved in form of human skull, with ivory snake crawling through ear and eye sockets, 18th century (?), Japanese

This tobacco box has been skilfully carved into the shape of a human skull, with an ivory snake slithering through the ear and eye sockets. Tobacco grew in popularity across the world from the 1600s onwards, favoured for its taste, aroma and nicotine boost.

The design is similar to that of a memento mori, an object used to remind a person of the shortness of life. ‘Memento mori’ is a Latin phrase that translates to ‘remember you must die’. Skulls are also a common symbol in Japanese design. They acted as a reminder of the transience of life and symbolised the afterlife in Japanese Buddhism.