William & Mary sterling silver oval tobacco box, circa 1691
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1691
This William & Mary era tobacco box is crafted from sterling silver and features a distinct oval profile. The piece is constructed with a pull-off lid that serves as its primary closure.
The surface of the lid is elaborately decorated with fine hand-engraved details, featuring a central shield displaying three stags' heads over three birds. This heraldic shield is surmounted by a knight's helmet and a bird's head couped, all set within an ornate surround of foliate scrollwork. The construction of the box is further detailed with a twisted frame border running along both the top and bottom edges, providing a refined tactile finish to the oval form.
While the top is highly decorative, the reverse of the box remains entirely unadorned. The box measures 3 5/8 inches in length by 3 inches in width and possesses a weight of 4.445 gross troy ounces. It is hallmarked as sterling silver from London, England, dating to circa 1691. The maker of this piece remains unascribed.
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
- 3 inches
- Length
- 3 5/8 inches
- Weight
- 4.445 gross ozt
- Material
- sterling silver
Technical characteristics
- Origin
- London, England
- Closure
- pull-off lid
Design
- Shape
- oval
- Border
- twisted frame
- Lid decoration
- shield of three stags heads over three birds, knights helmet, birds head couped, foliate work
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.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.