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Russian or possibly another Eastern European silver niello snuff box, marks are difficult to determine but one is the number 84 in the same punch with another unidentified mark.
In wonderful order with no defects, engraved initials to front with the date of 1898.
Measures 60x28x20mm.
| DATE | c.1898 |
| MAKER or SPONSOR MARK | Unknown |
| ASSAY OFFICE | ….. |
| WEIGHT (Grammes) | 53 |
| WEIGHT (Troy) | |
| REF:- | 574M |
Snuff boxes were and, indeed still are, used to store tobacco powder or snuff. The practice of snuffing (the inhalation of the tobacco powder known as snuff) began as early as the late 15th Century. At this time, tobacco use had become popular in England following the discovery of the New World. By the mid-17th Century, inhaling snuff was extremely popular and even women were partaking!
By the early 18th Century the nobility had also started to practice the use of snuff and needed something appropriate to hold their snuff.
As a result, in the later part of the 18th Century, craftsmen began producing decorative boxes for this purpose. They used precious metals like silver and gold and other materials like ivory, horn or tortoise shell to create the boxes.
Snuff boxes came in large and small sizes. The larger boxes were for communal use at social gatherings whereas the smaller boxes were for personal use.
During the 16th Century, silver snuff boxes were made primarily in Sheffield. Likewise, others began to be produced in Birmingham during the late 17th Century. They were often decorative with views of famous buildings engraved on the lids or boxes sides.
| Origin | Russian |
|---|---|
| Period | Victoria 1837-1901 |
| Sponsor/Maker | Unknown |
| REF CODE | 574M |
Situated within the Central belt of Scotland (UK), we are a small, family run business. Indeed, we traded in silver for many years before forming Dart Silver Ltd in 2006.
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Situated within the Central belt of Scotland (UK), we are a small, family run business. Indeed, we traded in silver for many years before forming Dart Silver Ltd in 2006.
