Queen Anne Britannia silver tobacco box, London 1705
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1705
This Queen Anne tobacco box is crafted from Britannia silver, a higher purity alloy often used in the early 18th century, and features a refined oval shape with a plain polished finish.
The box is designed with a pull-off cover, a common functional style for such personal containers during the period. The lid is elegantly decorated with an intricate engraved coat of arms, which has been identified as belonging to the HONYWOOD family of Elmsted, Kent. The craftsmanship reflects the distinct silversmithing standards of London in 1705. The object measures 10cm in length by 7.5cm in width and has a total weight of 115.8 grams, or 3.72 troy ounces.
The maker's mark is identified as CO, an untraced mark recorded as Grimwade 3508. This piece serves as a sophisticated example of early 18th-century English domestic silver, combining functional utility with personal heraldic display, typical of luxury accessories commissioned by the gentry at the time.
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
- 7.5cm
- Length
- 10cm
- Weight
- 115.8g / 3.72ozt
- Material
- Britannia silver
Technical characteristics
- Form
- oval
- Lid type
- pull-off
Design
- Engraving
- coat of arms for the HONYWOOD family of Elmsted, Kent
- Decoration
- plain polished
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
- CO (untraced, Grimwade 3508)
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.