Birmingham Brewers Snuff Box, 1847

This is a finely made early Victorian silver snuff box with a superb display of the engraver's art. The top is engraved with an interesting presentation inscription, but the underside is where the skill of the engraver really comes to the fore with a superb patchwork of engine turning with scroll vignettes and centred by a bouquet of flowers.

The hefty weight of the box gives a strudy and pleasing feel in the hand and lifting the cover by way of an applied, cast serpent thumblift reveals a gilt interior with the hallmarks stamped in the typical Birmingjham box manner. The condition of this box is excellent throughout.

The formal engraving to the front is written with typical Vicotrian sentiment and reads: "To Samuel Hill. This box is presented by the Birmingham Retail Brewers Protection Society as a testimony of their approbation for his adherence to truth and his unflinching exposure of falsehood".