A good Birmingham enamel snuff box, circa 1755
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1755
A good Birmingham enamel snuff box, circa 1755 Of waisted circular shape, the gilt metal box finely engine-turned to simulate basketwork, with delicate ropetwist handles, the hinged enamel lid painted with a colourful spray of flowers centred by a large pink rose, surrounded by three winged insects including a butterfly and a bee, 6.8cm wide Provenance Birmingham was a centre for both this fine engine-turned metalwork and enamels in the 1750s and 60s.
The process by which the boxes were machined was laborious and costly, no two boxes being exactly alike.
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 (listing wording)
- gilt metal
- Dimensions or weight (listing wording)
- 6.8cm wide
Identification
- Source note
- Auction-house description published on Invaluable. Attribution and measurements are the auction house’s statements about the photographed example; independent type authentication remains research required.
- Listing object ID
- 204842529
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Independent confirmation of type attribution and auction-house statements remains research required.