Tobacco Box
1655-1656 (hallmarked)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This silver tobacco box was intended for personal use. Silver tobacco boxes of the mid-17th century were usually oval and plain in form, with a slip-on lid. This example bears the most common type of decoration, engraved heraldic ornament on the lid. It also has a cabled wire ornament at the rim and base.
Ownership & Use
Tobacco first came into general use in Western Europe around 1570, when it was highly prized for its medicinal and narcotic properties. By the 1630s, however, taking tobacco had become a highly popular social and pleasurable habit for all classes, despite its cost. Tobacco was either smoked in a pipe or chewed. New accessories such as boxes, pipe stoppers and pipe stands were developed for this exotic material. Wealthy consumers might own a silver or silver-gilt box, but boxes of base metals and wood were also used. The development of snuff and snuff taking (the inhaling of powdered tobacco through the nostrils), and the accessories for it, followed that of tobacco.
This silver tobacco box was intended for personal use. Silver tobacco boxes of the mid-17th century were usually oval and plain in form, with a slip-on lid. This example bears the most common type of decoration, engraved heraldic ornament on the lid. It also has a cabled wire ornament at the rim and base.
Ownership & Use
Tobacco first came into general use in Western Europe around 1570, when it was highly prized for its medicinal and narcotic properties. By the 1630s, however, taking tobacco had become a highly popular social and pleasurable habit for all classes, despite its cost. Tobacco was either smoked in a pipe or chewed. New accessories such as boxes, pipe stoppers and pipe stands were developed for this exotic material. Wealthy consumers might own a silver or silver-gilt box, but boxes of base metals and wood were also used. The development of snuff and snuff taking (the inhaling of powdered tobacco through the nostrils), and the accessories for it, followed that of tobacco.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Silver, engraved |
| Brief description | Tobacco Box, silver, English, 17th century |
| Physical description | Silver with engraving and applied cabled wire |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label |
|
| Credit line | Lt. Col. G. B. Croft-Lyons Bequest |
| Object history | Bequest - Croft Lyon |
| Summary | Object Type This silver tobacco box was intended for personal use. Silver tobacco boxes of the mid-17th century were usually oval and plain in form, with a slip-on lid. This example bears the most common type of decoration, engraved heraldic ornament on the lid. It also has a cabled wire ornament at the rim and base. Ownership & Use Tobacco first came into general use in Western Europe around 1570, when it was highly prized for its medicinal and narcotic properties. By the 1630s, however, taking tobacco had become a highly popular social and pleasurable habit for all classes, despite its cost. Tobacco was either smoked in a pipe or chewed. New accessories such as boxes, pipe stoppers and pipe stands were developed for this exotic material. Wealthy consumers might own a silver or silver-gilt box, but boxes of base metals and wood were also used. The development of snuff and snuff taking (the inhaling of powdered tobacco through the nostrils), and the accessories for it, followed that of tobacco. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.695:1, 2-1926 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | June 5, 1998 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
