Snuffbox

Object Name:

Snuffbox

Object ID:

1916.013

Place of Origin:

Hanau, Germany (probably)

Date:

1848

Description:

Snuffbox. Gold, jewelled, probably sapphire, and enamel. Given by Frederick VII, King of Denmark, to Charles Chase Currier (1805-1860) in 1848. He was the American Consul at Penang. Rectangular box, rounded corners. Bottom recessed slightly. 17-knuckle hinge on one side. Cover, oval, central medallion of blue enamel over decorative background. Some of enamel, chipped off. On top of enamel, ornate letter "R" with inlaid, clear, faceted stones. Crown above "R", also with faceted inlaid stones. Directly below "R" is roman numeral "7" (VII) with inlaid stones. Around oval, matte and polished gold curlicues and rococo decorations. On surface, 14 mounted, clear, faceted stones. Appear to be silver mounts with tarnished surfaces. Letter and crown may also be silver in the tarnished surfaces. Sides of box, engraved and stamped decorations. Corners, shell and curlicue designs. Bottom surface, series of stamped and engraved decorations. Continuous raised foot around bottom edge to protect decorations. Inside box, polished. Lip on cover for friction fit with bottom section. Small maker's mark stamped in bottom surface on inside. Mark roughly diamond-shaped with 4 characters or symbols inside them.

Material:

Metal
Gold
Stone
Enamel
Silver

Dimensions:

H-1.1 W-2.45 L-3.5 inches Weight-5.15 oz

Provenance:

Given by Frederick VII, King of Denmark, to Charles Chase Currier (1805-1860), 1848. He was American Consul at Penang. Born Hopkinton, NH, 1805. Donors were probably all relatives.

Credit Line:

Gift of Charles C. Jones

People:

Currier, Charles C. (1805-1860), Oldenburg, Frederik Carl Christian (1808-1863)