Snuffbox with six maritime scenes
In eighteenth-century Europe, Paris led the production of high-quality luxury goods. Parisian goldsmiths made a wide range of small, personal articles such as snuffboxes; étuis to hold sealing wax, tweezers, or utensils for sewing; souvenirs, which contained thin ivory tablets for note taking; and shuttles for knotting lace. Gold snuffboxes and boxes decorated with portrait miniatures were prized and frequently given as royal gifts, often to ambassadors or members of the court in lieu of cash payments for their services. Coveted and admired, these boxes were produced from a variety of materials. The best were skillfully made of gold and embellished with diamonds, enameled decoration, lacquer, and other luxurious materials. By the middle of the century, the taking of snuff had become an entrenched social ritual, and the snuffbox, too, had become an important social prop. Snuffboxes were considered highly fashionable accessories, with some merchants advertising new boxes with each change of season. The popularity of snuffboxes extended to all levels of society, and for those who could not afford gold, boxes were produced in less expensive materials such as silver, tortoiseshell, porcelain, or domestically produced lacquer.
Artwork Details
- Title: Snuffbox with six maritime scenes
- Maker: Dominique-François Poitreau (apprenticed 1741, master 1757, retired 1781)
- Artist: Minaiture by French Painter , ca. 1770–71
- Artist: After a painting by Joseph Vernet (French, Avignon 1714–1789 Paris)
- Date: 1770–71
- Culture: French, Paris
- Medium: Gold, paper
- Dimensions: 1-1/4 x 3-1/16 x 1-7/8 in. (3.2 x 7.8 x 4.8 cm);
Miniatures: Top, chamfered corners, 1 1/2 x 2 5/8 in. (37 x 68 mm); bottom, chamfered corners, 1 1/2 x 2 5/8 in. (37 x 68 mm); front 2 1/8 x 3/4 in. (53 x 19 mm); back 2 1/8 x 3/4 in. (53 x 19 mm); left side 7/8 x 3/4 in. (22 x 19 mm); right side 7/8 x 3/4 in. (22 x 19 mm) - Classifications: Metalwork-Gold and Platinum, Miniatures
- Credit Line: Bequest of Catherine D. Wentworth, 1948
- Object Number: 48.187.428
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Mathieu Coiny fils
Jean-Baptiste Beckers
1759–60
Jean Georges (or George)
Mademoiselle Duplessis
ca. 1761–62
Daniel Govaers (or Gouers)
1734–35
Jacques-Nicolas Roettiers
1775–76
Claude-Siméon Passemant
ca. 1750
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.