Snuffbox
1720-1750 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
When this snuffbox was excavated from the River Plate in Uruguay, it contained gold coins dated 1749-51. In South American snuffboxes of this type, it is thought that snuff was placed in the central dish before it was inhaled.
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.
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.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Engraved and tooled gold. |
| Brief description | Gold snuffbox, South America, 1720-50 |
| Physical description | Rectangular, gold snuffbox, the cover engraved with a strapwork reserve bordered by and enclosing scrolling foliage and masks on a matted ground, applied to the cover is a central, oval, fluted dish surrounded by pointille scrolls. On the base, similar strapwork and an engraving of a house with trees. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | No marks |
| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
| Object history | Provenance owners: The Uruguayan Treasure of the River Plate, sale, Sotheby's, New York, lot 249, March 24/25, 1993. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | When this snuffbox was excavated from the River Plate in Uruguay, it contained gold coins dated 1749-51. In South American snuffboxes of this type, it is thought that snuff was placed in the central dish before it was inhaled. 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. |
| Other numbers |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.516:1, 2-2008 |
About this object record
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| Record created | June 26, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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