Skip to main content

Snuff box: M.72-1961

An image of Snuff box

Terms of use

These images are provided for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons License (BY-NC-ND). To license a high resolution version, please contact our image library who will discuss fees, terms and waivers.

Download this image

Creative commons explained - what it means, how you can use our's and other people's content.

Alternative views

Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Goldsmith: Sevin, Pierre (goldsmith) (Probably)
Retailer: George
Lacquer worker: Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

Gold box set with six Japanese lacquer panels

Gold and lacquer; rectangular with hinged flat lid and straight sides. The cagework box contains a Japanese lacquer panel on each of its six sides. The lid projects slightly over the sides of the box. The mounts are engraved with reed and ribbon decoration and the box is lined in gold. The lacquer panel on the lid depicts a landscape with flowering trees and two Japanese buildings on stilts; the base depicts pine saplings growing beside a stream; the front side panel depicts part of a leaf; the left side panel depicts a roof and a landscape with trees, and is inlaid with small squares of copper or red enamel; the back side panel depicts part of a landscape and is inlaid with small squares of black stone or enamel; and the right side panel depicts part of a leaf.

Legal notes

L.C.G. Clarke Bequest, 1960

Measurements and weight

Height: 3.0 cm
Length: 7.1 cm
Width: 5.3 cm

Place(s) associated

  • Paris ⪼ France

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1960-12-13) by Clarke, Louis Colville Gray

Dating

18th Century, third quarter
Louis XV
Production date: AD 1768

Note

French box with Japanese panels.

Components of the work

Panel composed of lacquer
Box composed of gold

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: GEORGE Rue de Gesore A Paris
  • Location: On the front of the bezel
  • Method of creation: Engraved
  • Type: Retailer's name

Inscription present: 'PS' with two pellets and a symbol above

  • Location: Inside the lid, base, left-hand bezel and front panel
  • Method of creation: Struck
  • Type: Maker's mark

Inscription present: a crowned script 'E'

  • Location: Inside the lid, base, left-hand bezel and front panel
  • Method of creation: Struck
  • Type: Warden's mark

Inscription present: a floral cluster

  • Location: Inside the lid and the base and on the left-hand bezel
  • Method of creation: Struck
  • Type: Charge mark

Inscription present: a helmeted head

  • Location: On the right-hand side of the bezel
  • Method of creation: Struck
  • Type: Discharge mark

Inscription present: the head of an animal

  • Location: On the right-hand side of the bezel
  • Method of creation: Struck
  • Type: Warranty mark
  • Location: Inside the front panel
  • Method of creation: Struck
  • Type: Charge mark
  • Text: DEPT. OF METALWORK / ON LOAN FROM / L.C.G. Clarke / No.64 / 19....
  • Location: Inside the lid
  • Method of creation: Printed and written in black ink and stuck with glue
  • Type: Paper label

Inscription present: 64

  • Location: Inside the lid
  • Method of creation: Printed in black ink and stuck with glue
  • Type: Paper label

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.72-1961
Primary reference Number: 150682
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 18 August 2015 Last processed: Wednesday 13 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Snuff box" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/150682 Accessed: 2024-11-21 23:29:54

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/150682 |title=Snuff box |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-21 23:29:54|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:

https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-150682

Bootstrap HTML code for reuse

To use this as a simple code embed, copy this string:

<div class="text-center">
    <figure class="figure">
        <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/aa/aa20/M_72_1961.jpg"
        alt="Snuff box"
        class="img-fluid" />
        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Snuff box</figcaption>
    </figure>
</div>
    

Sign up for updates

Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...