Handsome Scots Horn Snuff Box With Inlaid Lid And Silver Embellishments c. 1830
A handsome early 19th c. (1820-40) snuff box, in oblong form and made of horn, suggesting Scots manufacture, or possibly English. Its lid is decoratively inlaid with a natural off-white material commonly used in this period, around a raised diamond running to the center on each side, with a small jewel-like panel of figured tortoise at its center. That, and the horn diamond surrounding it, are further embellished with graceful decorative accents inlaid in silver, in a symmetrical pattern. Condition is good/very good. This horn snuff box is structurally sound, including its five-drum hinge, probably owing to its tough base material. There’s a bit of roughness on the top edge, and a small loss to the top end, of one of the inset panels flanking the central diamond on the lid. Two small elements of the silver inlay on the box’s right side have also gone missing over the centuries. The box still displays beautifully, however, its overall design is very lovely. Its slightly concave sides add a bit more grace to the box’s look.