Snuffbox
Applied Arts
Inventory number
2019.6.27.9.AA.BX.C1760.DEDescription
Gilt box decorated with an agate stone. The top of the box depicts a Classical scene where a woman lounges next to an arch, surrounded by volutes and flowers. Two dogs are at her side while a person is seen through the arch she leans on. Above her is a cherub or possibly Cupid. The front face of the box and the bottom both have a bird engraved.In eighteenth-century Europe, the taking of snuff had become an entrenched social ritual, and the snuffbox, too, had become an important social prop. Snuffboxes were considered highly fashionable accessories, with some merchants advertising new boxes with each change of season. Coveted and admired, these boxes were produced from a variety of materials. The best were skillfully made of gold and embellished with diamonds, enameled decoration, lacquer, and other luxurious materials. The popularity of snuffboxes extended to all levels of society, and for those who could not afford gold, boxes were produced in less expensive materials such as silver, tortoiseshell, porcelain, or domestically produced lacquer.
Materials
BrassAgate
Origin
circa 1760 GermanyDimensions
Width : 5.3 cmLength : 7.3 cm
Height : 3 cm