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Snuff box: M.90-1961

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An image of Snuff box
An image of Snuff box
Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Silversmith: Roberts, Thomas (silversmith)
Artist: Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

Oval, silver box, parcel-gilt, the lid set with a glass medallion painted in reverse in oil with a portrait of Queen Anne

Silver, parcel-gilt, the lid set with a glass medallion painted in reverse in oil. Oval with straight silver sides with projecting moulded edges and a projecting hinge. Inset into the flat lid is an oval verre églomisé portrait of Queen Anne, painted in black, red and gold, within a Baroque gold and black border containing the initials 'A' and 'R'. The interior of the box is gilt.

Notes

History note: Not known before testator

Legal notes

L.C.G. Clarke Bequest, 1960

Measurements and weight

Height: 1.5 cm
Length: 7.9 cm
Width: 5.5 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1960-12-13) by Clarke, Louis Colville Gray

Dating

18th Century, Early
Circa 1703 - 1707

Note

Thomas Roberts first mark was recorded on 20 November 1703. There is no record of his apprenticeship or freedom.

School or Style

English

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Portrait composed of oil paint gold glass
Interior composed of gold
Box composed of silver

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: AR
  • Location: On the lid
  • Method of creation: Painted
  • Type: Initials

Inscription present: "RO" beneath a crown

  • Location: On the inside of the lid
  • Method of creation: Struck
  • Type: Maker's mark

Inscription present: a leopard's head erased

  • Location: On the inside of the lid
  • Method of creation: Struck
  • Type: Standard mark
  • Text: M/20 E/W 8/- V/5/-
  • Location: On the lid
  • Method of creation: Scratch engraved
  • Type: Retailer's inscription

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.90-1961
Primary reference Number: 150677

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 25 March 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Snuff box" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/150677 Accessed: 2025-12-05 18:03:28

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/150677 |title=Snuff box |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 18:03:28|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/api/v1/objects/object-150677

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