Snuffbox
1792 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Snuffbox, coffin-shaped, made from sheet copper, England, dated 1792 with an engraved monogram and the initlas IAR, and an engraved border, Croft Lyons Bequest
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Sheet copper |
| Brief description | Snuffbox, coffin-shaped, copper, England, dated 1792 with an engraved monogram and the initlas IAR, Croft Lyons Bequest |
| Physical description | Snuffbox, coffin-shaped, made from sheet copper, England, dated 1792 with an engraved monogram and the initlas IAR, and an engraved border, Croft Lyons Bequest |
| Marks and inscriptions | IAR in a shield and the date 1792 (Ownership mark) |
| Gallery label | SNUFF BOX
Sheet copper, raised, tinned inside and engraved
England; dated 1792
Owner's initials 'IAR, 1792'
Coffin-shaped snuff boxes reminded snuff-takers that life's pleasures would pass. This one reinforces the message with an engraved hourglass on the lid. They were sufficiently popular to be noticed by Charles Dickens. '"You'll take your fortune, Mr. Sowerberry,' said the beadle, as he thrust his thumb and forefinger into the proffered snuff-box of the undertaker: which was an ingenious little model of a patent coffin.' (Oliver Twist, 1839)
Croft Lyons Bequest
Museum no. M.1030-1926
(01/01/2004) |
| Credit line | Lt. Col. G. B. Croft-Lyons Bequest |
| Object history | Coffin-shaped snuff boxes reminded snuff-takers that life's pleasures were only temporary. This one reinforces the message with an engraved hourglass on the lid. They were sufficiently popular to be noticed by Charles Dickens. '"You'll make your fortune, Mr. Sowerberry," said the beadle, as he thrust his thumb and forefinger into the proffered snuff-box of the undertaker: which was an ingenious little model of a patent coffin.' (Oliver Twist, 1839) |
| Subject depicted | |
| Bibliographic reference | Patterson, Angus, "The Belinda Gentle Metalware Gallery at the V&A", Journal of the Antique Metalware Society, Volume 13, June 2005, p. 46, Fig. 3 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.1030-1926 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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