Snuff Box
ca. 1680 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This small tortoiseshell and silver box held snuff. Snuff is powdered tobacco fermented in salt, ground and scented and flavoured with spices such as cinnamon, cloves, lavender and bergamot. Snuff taking became popular in England with the Great Plague (1664-1665) as people thought it had valuable antiseptic properties. It was mainly a male habit, although Catherine de Medici started the fashion for snuff at the French court.
Snuff boxes came in a variety of style and shapes. They were usually small, with a hinged lid. The bottom part was usually made in one piece. Some examples have two compartments, with a hinged lid at the top and another at the bottom. They often had elaborate decoration including engraving (as here), chasing, embossing, engine turning or enamelling. This snuff box also has a repoussé silver bust.
Snuff boxes came in a variety of style and shapes. They were usually small, with a hinged lid. The bottom part was usually made in one piece. Some examples have two compartments, with a hinged lid at the top and another at the bottom. They often had elaborate decoration including engraving (as here), chasing, embossing, engine turning or enamelling. This snuff box also has a repoussé silver bust.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Tortoiseshell with reposse silver and engraved silver mounts |
| Brief description | Tortoiseshell with silver mounts, England, ca.1680 |
| Physical description | Tortoiseshell with reposse silver bust of Charles I and engraved silver mounts. Oval, the mounts engraved with Laurel. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Inside the lid, an engraved caot of arms (unidentified) |
| Credit line | Lt. Col. G. B. Croft-Lyons Bequest |
| Object history | Bequest - Croft Lyons Acquisition RF: Croft Lyons |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This small tortoiseshell and silver box held snuff. Snuff is powdered tobacco fermented in salt, ground and scented and flavoured with spices such as cinnamon, cloves, lavender and bergamot. Snuff taking became popular in England with the Great Plague (1664-1665) as people thought it had valuable antiseptic properties. It was mainly a male habit, although Catherine de Medici started the fashion for snuff at the French court. Snuff boxes came in a variety of style and shapes. They were usually small, with a hinged lid. The bottom part was usually made in one piece. Some examples have two compartments, with a hinged lid at the top and another at the bottom. They often had elaborate decoration including engraving (as here), chasing, embossing, engine turning or enamelling. This snuff box also has a repoussé silver bust. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.716-1926 |
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| Record created | September 10, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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