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SNUFF AND SNUFF-BOXES. 



Gold, silver, and precious stones were frequently- 

 adopted as the materials from which snuff-boxes were 

 manufactured. Agate, pietra dura, rare woods, or 

 mosaics, were used for such persons as could not 

 " sport " gold and diamonds. The following is a good 

 description of the snuff-boxes of Queen Anne's era : — 



For females fair, and formal fops to please, 

 The mines are robb'd of ore, of shells the seas, 

 With all that mother earth and beast afford 

 To man, unworthy now, tho' once their lord : 

 Which wrought into a box, with all the show 

 Of art the greatest artist can bestow ; 

 Charming in shape, with polish' d rays of light, 

 A joint so fine it shuns the sharpest sight ; 

 Must still be graced with all the radiant gems 

 And precious stones that e'er arrived in Thames. 

 Within the lid the painter plays his part, 

 And with his pencil proves his matchless art ; 

 There drawn to life some spark or mistress dwells, 

 Like hermits chaste and constant to their cells.* 



Enamelled boxes, looking like porcelain and covered 

 with painted ornaments, were manufactured in fanciful 

 variety. Our engraving represents a curious box of this 



kind, which has no doubt been the treasured " pocket 

 companion " of some devoted musician. It is formed 



* Pandora's Box; a Satyr against Snuff, 1719. 



