{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O25388"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O25388/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O25388","accessionNumber":"M.2-1999","objectType":"Box","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This snuff box was made of German or nickel silver in England in about 1836-1840. German or nickel silver, also called Argentine or Argentan--an alloy of refined nickel, copper and zinc--was an attempt to imitate the Chinese <font -i>paktong</font> metal. It was developed in Europe in the 1820s.","physicalDescription":"Hinged box. German silver or Argentan or nickel silver","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"nickel silver","id":"AAT242125"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Nickel or German silver","categories":[{"text":"Personal accessories","id":"THES48912"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"67 (VA)","id":"THES49731"},"free":"","case":"CA010","shelf":"003","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Snuff box","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1836-1840","earliest":"1836-01-01","latest":"1840-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Brian Beet","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"3.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"1.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Unidentified marks inside the lid of a downward facing arrow head and star.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"punched","position":"Inside lid.","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inside lid.; punched"},{"content":"JP or IP - owners initials?","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"Engraved","position":"On the outside of the lid.","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"On the outside of the lid.; Engraved"}],"objectHistory":"Gift - Brian Beet, 11 New Bond Street, London, W1Y OBQ\nThe outside of this snuffbox shows the bright lustre attainable on nickel silver, contrasted with its 'unfinished' interior. Nickel silver or 'German silver' resembles paktong, the Chinese 'white copper' alloy of copper, nickel and zinc, imported into Britain since at least the 17th-century. In Germany a similar metal was used from the 18th-century for gun furniture. Gutike, a Berlin metalworker, demonstrated its properties in England in 1830. Its hardness made it ideal for frequently used items such as cutlery, but made engraving difficult. Experimentation with alloys meant nickel-silver became an imitation silver, sold under names including Argentan and Argentine, and a suitable base metal for electroplate. Nickel silver tarnishes slightly yellow.","historicalContext":"German or nickel silver, also called Argentine, Argentan etc, an alloy of refined nickel, copper and zinc, was an attempt to copy the Chinese paktong metal. It was developed in Europe in the 1820s, soon after the successful refining of nickel, which was crucial to the development of  the new alloy. The commercial manufacture of nickel silver probably began in Berlin or Leipzig but quickly spread to England. After about 1830 English nickel alloy pieces are more likely to have been made of the new metal rather than Chinese white copper or Paktong. The new alloys proved to be cheaper, more readily available and more predictable to work with than Paktong.","briefDescription":"Snuff Box, German or nickel silver, made in England about 1836-40","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Keith Pinn, <u>Paktong, The Chinese Alloy in Europe, 1680-1820</u>, Antique Collectors' Club, 1999"}],"production":"Much of the German or nickel silver was manufactured in Birmingham or Sheffield.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"5. SNUFF BOX\r\nGerman silver/nickel silver\r\nEngland, around 1835\r\nMark unidentified\r\nThe outside of this snuffbox shows the bright lustre attainable on nickel silver, contrasted with its 'unfinished' interior. The hardness of nickel silver, or 'German silver', made it ideal for frequently used items such as cutlery, but made engraving difficult. Experimentation with alloys meant nickel-silver became an imitation silver, sold under names including Argentan and Argentine, and a suitable base metal for electroplate. Nickel silver tarnishes slightly yellow.\r\nBrian Beet Gift\r\nM.2-1999","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["M.2-1999"],"accessionNumberNum":"2","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1999,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-07-22","recordCreationDate":"2000-02-22","availableToBook":false}}