Skip to main content

Snuff box: M.78-1961

An image of Snuff box
View image details

Terms of use

The low-resolution images published on this Website are made available under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (CC BY-NC-ND). For more details: Fitzwilliam Terms of Use

This licence does not include any images of works that are still in copyright. Artistic copyright extends from the life of the artist to 70 years from the end of the calendar year in which the artist died.

Download this image

For further information on use of images or to license a high resolution version, please contact our image library who can discuss terms and fees.

Alternative views

An image of Snuff box
An image of Snuff box
An image of Snuff box
Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Silversmith: Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

Shaped rectangular, red agate box with silver lid engraved with posy of flowers

Red agate with silver lid and mounts, parcel-gilt and engraved. Rectangular with a flat back, cut corners and a serpentine front; the sides are slightly concave. The almost flat lid has a recessed hinge and a double scroll-shaped thumbpiece. The top is engraved with a thread edge border and stylised leaves round a circular cartouche contining of a posy of flowers, including a rose and carnation, tied with a ribbon. The silver rim mount has a border of pieced and engraved stiff leaves. The inner edge of the bezel and the interior of the lid are gilt.

Notes

History note: Not known before testator

Legal notes

L.C.G. Clarke Bequest, 1960

Measurements and weight

Height: 3.4 cm
Length: 8.5 cm
Width: 7 cm

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

18th Century, Mid
1730 CE - 1760 CE

Note

The silver does not bear a maker's mark

School or Style

French
Spanish

Components of the work

Box composed of agate
Surface Of Lid composed of gold
Lid composed of silver
Rim Mount composed of silver
Decoration

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.78-1961
Primary reference Number: 150687

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 29 April 2024

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 (2025) "Snuff box" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/150687 Accessed: 2025-12-06 05:09:58

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/150687 |title=Snuff box |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-06 05:09:58|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-150687

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/aa24/M_78_1961_20_281_29.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...

University of Cambridge Museums logo
Cambridge City Council logo
Arts Council England Logo
Research England logo