The birds on the outside of this box are depicted realistically in landscapes. Inside, however, the animals are treated as people. Dressed in human costume, a monkey in a wig administers an enema to a prostrate cat.

Snuffboxes made out of porcelain followed the shapes of those made in gold and hardstones. Painted scenes or portraits ornamented the sides, covers and interiors. Changing forms and decoration were important, as these fashion accessories might be chosen to match the season or a particular costume. Most European (though rarely English) porcelain factories made snuffboxes. The largest producer was Meissen in Germany, which manufactured vast quantities of boxes from about 1735-65. A price list of 1765 mentions 11 varieties, the cheapest painted with flowers. This porcelain however was produced in Fürstenberg ca.1750, whilst the accompanying mounts were made much later in Vienna between 1872 and 1922.

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.