{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O164610"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O164610/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HR8644/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HR8644/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2015HR8644","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HR8645","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HR8646","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O164610/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O164610","accessionNumber":"T.1540-1913","objectType":"Snuff box","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Snuff, or powdered tobacco, was widely popular throughout Europe from the 17th century. Sniffed from the back of the hand, from pinched fingers or from a spoon, snuff was enjoyed on social occasions and would be placed on the table or passed around a group. Thousands of small portable boxes to contain the powder, were made as personal accessories, often in novel designs, to be given as gifts.\r\n\r\nShoe and boot shaped snuff boxes were made throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Shoes have long been associated with love and marriage and were often given for good luck. This carved wooden snuff box appears to be made in rosewood, one of the most costly and desirable hardwoods. The top of the shoe has been hollowed out to form a container for the snuff covered by a sliding lid. The front of the shoe is decorated with a floral motif, in a combination of staining and brass piqué work. On the sole, metal is inlaid at the toe and heel, perhaps a device to stop the container tipping easily. The size and weight of this snuff box suggests it was intended as table ware rather than as a portable container.","physicalDescription":"Snuff box of carved wood decorated with staining  and brass piqué work in a floral motif.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"rosewood","id":"AAT12424"},{"text":"brass","id":"AAT10946"},{"text":"metal","id":"AAT10900"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"},{"text":"piqué work","id":"x42823"},{"text":"inlay (process)","id":"AAT53850"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Carved wood (probably rosewood), partly stained and decorated with brass piqué work (small holes drilled into the wood to hold pieces of metal wire), and metal inlay","categories":[{"text":"Tableware & cutlery","id":"THES48888"},{"text":"Woodwork","id":"THES48877"},{"text":"Smoking accessories","id":"THES49036"},{"text":"Personal accessories","id":"THES48912"},{"text":"Containers","id":"THES48972"},{"text":"Footwear","id":"THES48951"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2015HR8644","2015HR8645","2015HR8646"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES302016"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES302016"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Snuff box","id":""}],[{"text":"Lid","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1820-1880","earliest":"1820-01-01","latest":"1880-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"MA/1/H926","id":"ARC163180"},"association":"Archive record"}],"creditLine":"Given by Messrs Harrods Ltd.","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"16","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"heel to toe","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"heel to lid","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":" ","type":"","note":""},{"content":" ","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"This was part of a very large collection of items of dress and accessories which was given to the Museum by Harrods, the department store, in 1913. The collection had been formed by the artist Talbot Hughes, who wrote a book on the history of dress, illustrated with photographs of models wearing items from his collection. A large firm in America had offered to buy the collection and present it to the Metropolitan Museum, New York, but Hughes did not want it to go abroad. At the suggestion of Cecil Harcourt Smith of the V&A, Harrods bought it for £2,500 and gave it to the Museum for the 'public good'. Harrods displayed the collection for three weeks in December 1913.","historicalContext":"Part of Messrs Harrods gift","briefDescription":"English 1800-1900\n\nEnglish 1800-1900","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["T.1540-1913","T.1540A-1913"],"accessionNumberNum":"1540","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1913,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Snuff box","Lid"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-10-01","recordCreationDate":"2008-07-30","availableToBook":true}}