1779 English sterling silver oval snuff box with engine-turned decoration, engraved D. Cobb
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1779
This 1779 oval snuff box, crafted in London, features intricate engine-turning and fine silver craftsmanship. It is of a graceful, elongated oval form, with a lid surface embellished by engine-turned patterns, a surrounding laurel border, and elaborate scrollwork.
The center of the lid showcases an oval medallion featuring an eagle holding an olive branch, a torch, and a quiver of arrows, surmounted by a ribboned crest. The sides of the box are finished with a matching engine-turned band. The interior of the silver lid is engraved with the initials D. Cobb, identifying the owner as David Cobb (1748–1830), a physician and Revolutionary War officer who served as an aide-de-camp to General George Washington.
Measuring approximately 3 inches long by 2.75 inches wide and 1.25 inches deep, the box bears London hallmarks, including the lion passant, the leopard's head, and the maker's mark of William Simmons. This piece serves as both a high-quality example of late 18th-century English silversmithing and a significant personal artifact related to the American Revolutionary era.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Silver
- Dimensions
- 3 inches long x 2.75 inches wide x 1.25 inches deep
Technical characteristics
- Hallmarks
- London, including lion passant, leopard's head, date letter for 1779, and maker's mark
Design
- Inscriptions
- D. Cobb
- Lid decoration
- Engine-turned with laurel border, scrollwork, and a central medallion depicting an eagle, torch, quiver of arrows, and a ribboned crest
- Body decoration
- Engine-turned bands
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
- Maker named in listing
- William Simmons
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.