Snuff-box, gold set with diamonds, Hanau, 1837

Snuff, or powdered tobacco inhaled through the nose, became a fashionable pursuit in the early years of the 18th century. Ladies and gentlemen followed the appropriate coded manners and offered each other snuff from rich, elegant boxes in the latest styles. From the 1720s, snuff boxes were increasingly given as diplomatic gifts. Presentation snuffboxes soon spread from France across Europe and even Russia.

This box, dated September 1837, is one of the earliest gifts presented by Queen Victoria, who had ascended the British throne earlier in June. The inscription records that it was given to Colonel Francis Venables-Vernon-Harcourt in recognition of services rendered to the Queen while she resided at Kensington Palace. Colonel Harcourt (1801-80) was a British politician who had served as equerry to Victoria's mother, the Duchess of Kent (1786-1861), at Kensington Palace where the princess lived prior to becoming Queen. Charles Collin & Söhne was one of the most prolific goldsmithing firms during the 19th century.

Based in Hanau, Germany, an important centre for goldsmithing since the 18th century, the firm created innumerable gold boxes that, having been further embellished by local court jewellers with diamond ciphers or portraits, were used as presentation boxes by the sovereign rulers of Europe and Russia. Rectangular varicoloured gold snuffbox, the cover set with a diamond monogram 'VR' beneath an Imperial crown, within a border of diamonds and with four larger diamonds at the corners.

The gold is chased with roses, shells and foliage on a matted ground; the walls chased with scrolls; the base has an applied bouquet of flowers and the interior is engraved with an inscription presenting the box from Queen Victoria to Col. Harcourt, dated 24 September 1837.