Cape Colony oval silver snuff box by Lawrence Holme Twentyman
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c.1818-1837
This antique Cape Colony snuff box, crafted from silver, exhibits an oval shape and measures 7.3 cm in width. The piece features an expertly hinged cover that opens to reveal a gilt interior, a characteristic finishing touch of high-quality silversmithing from the period.
The exterior surfaces of both the hinged lid and the body are richly decorated with fine engraving, incorporating delicate foliage patterns and wrigglework ornamentation. A central focus of the lid's design is a wreath-shaped cartouche, which has been engraved with the initials 'FH'. This snuff box is attributed to Lawrence Holme Twentyman, a prominent 19th-century silversmith based in the Cape Colony, who was originally trained in Liverpool as a clock and watchmaker before relocating to the Cape in 1818.
The box has a total weight of 70 grams and reflects the refined aesthetic of Cape silver craftsmanship produced during the early to mid-19th century.
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
- Width
- 7.3 cm
- Weight
- 70g
- Interior
- gilt
- Material
- silver
Design
- Shape
- oval
- Decoration
- engraved foliage and wrigglework
- Inscription
- FH
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
- Lawrence Holme Twentyman
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.