Snuff Grater
ca. 1750 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This ivory snuff grater was made in about 1750 in France, probably Dieppe. The cover of this grater is carved with an oval medallion of Jupiter standing on an eagle.
A snuff rasp was used like a nutmeg grater for grating dried tobacco into snuff. A perforated metal section was fixed inside the ivory cover for grating. Snuff taking was a popular pastime in France for the wealthy and fashionable. There was the rumour that a regular dose of snuff would protect against the plague. The tobacco was grated from the solid tobacco roll known as a "carotte".
A snuff rasp was used like a nutmeg grater for grating dried tobacco into snuff. A perforated metal section was fixed inside the ivory cover for grating. Snuff taking was a popular pastime in France for the wealthy and fashionable. There was the rumour that a regular dose of snuff would protect against the plague. The tobacco was grated from the solid tobacco roll known as a "carotte".
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Ivory and wood with metal mounts |
| Brief description | Snuff grater, ivory, with Jupiter, French (probably Dieppe), ca. 1750 |
| Physical description | Snuff grater in ivory. The cover is carved with an oval medallion of Jupiter standing on an eagle on a cloud, holding a thunderbolt in his right hand. Below is a basket of flowers and above is a device of cornucopias and a shell below a mask. A skull is carved at the base. At the back are a grater and a wood compartment for snuff, the wood cover possibly a later replacement. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Mrs Ellen Hearn, Villa St Louis, Menton in 1923; this and other objects presented at the same time were labelled as the Alfred Williams Hearn gift. |
| Object history | Given by Mrs Ellen Hearn, Villa St Louis, Menton in 1923; this and other objects presented at the same time were labelled as the Alfred Williams Hearn gift. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This ivory snuff grater was made in about 1750 in France, probably Dieppe. The cover of this grater is carved with an oval medallion of Jupiter standing on an eagle. A snuff rasp was used like a nutmeg grater for grating dried tobacco into snuff. A perforated metal section was fixed inside the ivory cover for grating. Snuff taking was a popular pastime in France for the wealthy and fashionable. There was the rumour that a regular dose of snuff would protect against the plague. The tobacco was grated from the solid tobacco roll known as a "carotte". |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.62-1923 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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