Hi folks, I have a stunning Thomas Shaw solid silver snuff box with gilt interior Birmingham hallmark 1834. The box lid is very detailed and depicts a meeting of 19th century gentlemen in jovial mood partaking of a foaming ale - one gentleman appears to be regaling his audience of a tale or perhaps a bawdy joke! The box is fully decorated on all sides as can be seen from the photos and it measures 8x6cm and 2cm in depth. The inside of the box is fully hallmarked top and bottom. There is on little flaw in this 176 year old box and that is a tiny 4mm tear on the right hand side corner next to the hinge (not on the hinge) which is barely visible - otherwise the box is in excellent condition. I would be interested to know what the scene on the lid depicts as I can find no information on it. Can anyone help me please?? Thanks, Nic
What a fantastic find! Important events were often commemorated on small items like snuff boxes, a scene like this would usually refer to something rather than a random scene; think of all the Trafalgar and Waterloo boxes. As its English I would say the event was an English one; things that spring to mind would be important meetings of the Royal Society, political meetings etc. As this could be pretty much anyhting maybe Googling around that time might yield some results. Ermtony and Viking both have good collections and maybe they have a closer idea. Whatever, its a treasure.
Can’t help you with the picture on that lovely box. But I’ve seen that picture before, in print. I’m hoping someone on the forum can come up with some details.
Welcome to Snuffhouse Nic.
The brief but important reign of William IV (1830-1837) was marked by huge social and political reform: Abolition Act (of slavery in British Dominions), the Factory Act, the Poor Law, the Municipal Corporations Act and the Great Reform Act to name a few. All pictorial commemorations of such important events are usually patently obvious with symbols of suffrage and emancipation. The relaxed atmosphere of twelve seated men being addressed by a speaker suggests (apart from the Last Supper) a possible municipal event local to Birmingham where the box was made. At a stretch it could even depict a Cabinet meeting of the government (the speaker is certainly portly enough to be Melbourne, the PM). On the other hand your own interpretation (“a meeting of 19th century gentlemen in jovial mood partaking of a foaming ale - one gentleman appears to be regaling his audience of a tale or perhaps a bawdy joke!”) is also likely.
I suspect its political. The guy on the far left is not at all amused by the theatrics of the orator standing on his chair. Presumably they are opponents in the argument.
I may be mistaken but aren’t a lot of snuffboxs also decorated to show the persons profession or hobbies?
It’s Alex, just playing up hell about us Moderators, Lol! Sorry Alex!
I think it might be a scene from Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens - about the right year and the character talking looks like Pickwick…
I have just downloaded the book onto my iPad and will let you know if I come across the same illustration…
Jonathan