Snuff container – Kamba – Kenya – horn, leather and glass beads Details Origin: Kenya People: Kamba Type: Snuff container / tobacco container Material(s): Horn, leather, glass beads, fibre Dimensions: container itself: 6.5 cm high Period: probably 1970s Provenance: Collected in situ by the present owner in Kenya in the 1990s Stand: None Description A charming Kamba snuff container from Kenya, made from horn with a leather cover and red glass bead decoration. Containers of this type formed part of personal equipment and were used to carry tobacco snuff or related powdered substances. Small and portable, they were intimate objects, often worn, handled and kept close to the body. This example is particularly attractive for its compact form and bright beadwork. The main body is made from dark horn, with a rounded lower section and a cylindrical upper part. The surface shows a deep brown-black patina, with lighter rubbed areas consistent with handling and use. The top is closed by a leather cover, while the object is adorned with strands of red glass beads forming both a decorative suspension and a carrying chain. A few orange beads add a small accent of colour. The beadwork gives the object a vivid visual presence while remaining fully integrated into its functional construction. Compared with older, more austere examples, this piece has a slightly later and more decorative character, probably dating from the 1970s. It nevertheless remains a fine ethnographic object, appreciated for its materials, personal scale, preserved beadwork and attractive patina. A very appealing Kamba snuff container, combining horn, leather and glass beads in a compact personal object with strong visual charm. Condition Good condition overall, with wear, rubbing, small marks, surface irregularities and age-related patina consistent with use. Leather cover preserved. Red glass bead decoration and suspension preserved. No stand included. Please refer to the photographs. Included The snuff container only. No stand included.