Queen Anne cedar and engraved bone tobacco box, dated 1707

This Queen Anne period tobacco box is crafted from cedar wood and features decorative engraved bone inlays. The oval-shaped box measures 10cm in width, 8cm in depth, and 3cm in height.

The top of the lid is adorned with an intricate pattern that includes boxwood stringing and inset bone panels. Engraved directly into the bone is the inscription 'Too Good For You The Best Is Not' arranged around a central diamond motif that displays the date '1707'. The underside of the box bears a further inscription, which appears to read 'The Gift of Edwd. Reppington of Ommington[?] 173[?]'. This type of personal domestic utensil was common during the early 18th century, reflecting the era's taste for detailed, small-scale woodwork combined with scrimshaw-style bone engraving.

The box is constructed as a functional vessel for containing loose tobacco, exhibiting the characteristic artistry of the period through its combination of mixed materials and commemorative text.