FANCY SNUFF-BOXES. 261 



like the old harpsichord, and withinside the lid is a 

 Sonata ; the outside is painted with groups of musical 

 instruments, and it is dated 1723, being of German 

 manufacture. Subjects from Watteau were favourites 

 on such painted boxes; and the famous Dresden China 

 Factory at Meissen produced some exceedingly 

 beautiful boxes in that brittle material, which are now 

 treasured within the cabinets of wealtlry collectors, they 

 were mounted in metal, and were perfectly tight at all 

 junctures, the whole of the metal work being fabricated 

 with exceeding care. The hinges of all old boxes are 

 generally exquisitely made. Very frequently these boxes 



assumed fanciful forms, so that they became part of the 

 decoration of a lady's boudoir. In Cibber's comedy 

 of The Careless Husband, Lord Foppington declares 

 " Lady Betty was just upon the wing, but I caught her 

 by the snuff-box, and she pretends to stay to see if I 

 will give it her or no." To which an equally foppish 

 rival Lord replies, " Death ! 'tis that I gave her, and 

 the only present she would ever receive from me." 

 Two examples of these toy-boxes for Ladies are here 



