Samuel Pemberton II bright-cut engraved sterling silver snuff box
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c. 1788
This British sterling silver snuff box dates to circa 1788 and is attributed to the silversmith Samuel Pemberton II of Birmingham. The lidded, hinged box features a rectangular form with elegant hand-engraved bright-cut floral panels and diamond-shaped geometric scroll borders on the exterior.
The interior is finished with a gold-gilt coating. The box is clearly marked with an 'SP' hallmark punch identifying the maker. A personal touch is added by the name 'William Darley Bentley' monogrammed on the side of the box, reflecting its history associated with the 19th-century Brazilian Consul-General to Canada. The piece measures 2.75 inches in length, 1.75 inches in width, and 0.75 inches in height. It exemplifies the fine craftsmanship of the Georgian jewelry and toy-making era in Birmingham, showcasing sophisticated metalwork techniques of the late 18th century.
Its overall construction demonstrates the period's preference for intricate, decorative metalwork on small personal accessories.
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
- sterling silver, gold-gilt
- Dimensions
- L 2.75 x W 1.75 x H 0.75 inches
Technical characteristics
- Markings
- English sterling hallmarks, SP hallmark punch
Design
- Decoration
- bright-cut floral panels, diamond-shaped geometric scroll borders
- Inscription
- William Darley Bentley
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
- Samuel Pemberton II
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.