Snuffbox

Vienna|Claudius Innocentius Du Paquier period

ca. 1730 · Hard-paste porcelain, gold · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Since snuff use had become widespread throughout Europe in the eighteenth century, small portable, airtight containers for storing grated tobacco were in demand. Carried in the hand or a pocket, snuffboxes always had a hinged lid and were made of materials ranging from gold mounted with diamonds and precious stones to base metals. Porcelain examples such as this one were also fashionable.

Artist

Vienna|Claudius Innocentius Du Paquier period

Date

ca. 1730

Medium

Hard-paste porcelain, gold

Culture

Austrian, Vienna

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1964