Snuff Box
ca. 1720 - ca. 1740 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Snuff, or powdered tobacco, was widely popular throughout Europe from the 17th century. Small boxes to contain the powder were made in their thousands, with decoration varying from the most expensive ones in jewelled gold and silver, to much more modest boxes carved in wood. Miniature shoes seem to have been popular in both the 18th and the 19th centuries, but the form of this shoe suggests a date in the first half of the 18th century. The carved decoration, showing scenes from the passion and death of Christ, may seem strangely sombre to us now for the decoration of an item associated with leisure.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved boxwood |
| Brief description | Snuff box in the form of a shoe, of boxwood, carved with scenes of the passion and crucifixion, Germany, ca. 1720-40 |
| Physical description | Snuff box in the form of a shoe, of boxwood, carved with scenes of the passion and crucifixion, including the scourging of Christ, the carrying of the cross, Christ on the cross. The heels are carved with the traditional emblems of the crucifixion, including the 5 nails, a cockerel and a bag in which the thirty pieces of silver were carried. |
| Dimensions |
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| Subject depicted | |
| Association | |
| Summary | Snuff, or powdered tobacco, was widely popular throughout Europe from the 17th century. Small boxes to contain the powder were made in their thousands, with decoration varying from the most expensive ones in jewelled gold and silver, to much more modest boxes carved in wood. Miniature shoes seem to have been popular in both the 18th and the 19th centuries, but the form of this shoe suggests a date in the first half of the 18th century. The carved decoration, showing scenes from the passion and death of Christ, may seem strangely sombre to us now for the decoration of an item associated with leisure. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1268-1872 |
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| Record created | December 13, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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