Snuff Box
ca. 1720 (made)
| Artist/Maker |
Snuff boxes were a vital dress accessory in 18th century Europe and sophisticated owners boasted boxes in the latest fashions. A complex etiquette surrounded the taking of snuff, which was a preparation of tobacco for inhaling through the nostrils.
The lid and base of this snuff box is made from dark tortoiseshell inlaid with tiny gold pins. The rim is silver-gilt. Near the hinge, a number of the tiny gold pins have fallen out.
The lid and base of this snuff box is made from dark tortoiseshell inlaid with tiny gold pins. The rim is silver-gilt. Near the hinge, a number of the tiny gold pins have fallen out.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Tortoiseshell decorated with gold piqué and mounted in silver-gilt |
| Brief description | Snuff box, tortoise-shell decorated with gold picque and mounted in copper-gilt, with scallop shell motif, ca. 1720 |
| Physical description | Tortoise-shell decorated with gold pique and mounted in copper-gilt. The rim is copper gilt. The box plain, the lid decorated with a large scallop shell within a border of scrolls. |
| Gallery label |
|
| Credit line | Griffin Bequest |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Snuff boxes were a vital dress accessory in 18th century Europe and sophisticated owners boasted boxes in the latest fashions. A complex etiquette surrounded the taking of snuff, which was a preparation of tobacco for inhaling through the nostrils. The lid and base of this snuff box is made from dark tortoiseshell inlaid with tiny gold pins. The rim is silver-gilt. Near the hinge, a number of the tiny gold pins have fallen out. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.194-1960 |
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| Record created | February 9, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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