- Museum number
- 2015.2
- Object
- Snuffbox in the form of a shoe, enamel, probably Bilston, c.1770
- Description
- Snuff box, in the shape of a ladies' shoe, enamel on copper, with base metal mounts. Border decoration in pink enamel with raised white enamel decoration of cartouches containing diaper decoration, crosses and scrolls. White cartouches contain coloured enamel floral decoration in pink, orange, green, blue and purple on heel, sides of shoe, top of shoe (toe) and lid. Inside lid contains old sticker reading 'Guaranteed Genuine Albert Amor John G. Perkins'.
- On display?
- Yes
Further description
- Simple name
- snuff box
Lady’s snuff box
English
Enamel, about 1770
2015.2
From the collection of A.A. Macdonald, given to the Holburne Museum by Anthony Weale, 2015
The snuff box is typical of the ‘fancy goods’ sold in toyshops at the end of the eighteenth century. Enamel boxes made in Bilston, Staffordshire, were sold widely as novelty items. This snuff box, in the form of a fashionable shoe, was probably made for a lady. At this date, both women and men took snuff. Queen Charlotte was so fond of it that she was known by her sons as ‘Old Snuffy'.
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