James Cox ran a company that made objets de vertu, also known as toys. His tradecard states that he made 'a great variety of curious work in gold, silver, and other metals also in amber, pearl, tortoiseshell and curious stones'. The ‘curious stones’ mounted in this snuffbox are moss agate. The dendritic patterns (that resemble moss) occur as a result of manganese or iron oxides deposited within microcrystalline quartz.

In 1772 Cox opened a showroom, which he called a museum, where he displayed his most spectacular work. Cox’s objects are international in nature. He employed craftsmen of many different nationalities and bought parts from across Europe. He also sold his objects as far afield as India and Russia.

His objects were intended to surprise and inspire wonder in their viewer. To help create this effect Cox often included parts which made the objects move. These animated objects were not intended to be practical. For this snuffbox the inclusion of a dial adds an additional function: when out and about it doubles as a watch. However in reality it is far too heavy to be carried in a pocket. Cox’s creations are decorative through their beauty, scientific through their mechanisms and wondrous through the combination of the two.

Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world’s great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.