Time to sell a lot of our 'this and that' spare items - I'll be listing loads of them in weeks ahead. The things we set aside in deference to more fabulous or valuable antiques just owing to time constraints. Amazing how that relegated 'this and that' has multiplied over time! This one is a superb hand carved coquilla nut snuff box from the Napoleonic era, very nice form and well-carved throughout. A lion with glass eyes (1 to be replaced) to the back of the snuff, a smiling bearded man's face on the opposite end, and a sitting soldier on top and beautiful patterning over the remainder. Possibly the carved smiling man might be a portrait of the carver. Full measurements noted on photos.
Very good to excellent for age and type, over 200 years old now, it is unbroken and displays elegantly with lid in place. Lid holds tight on its own, but when opened you realize the hinge is broken. It remains in place but the lid is not attached. The carving is really beautiful on this old one. A lost art. Being sold as is, for someone else's 'project' to fix or replace the hinge and a single lion's eye (bead). Beautiful carved floral swags decorate each side, and there no breaks, which is quite rare on these.
