Holt Antiques at Walsingham Mill
18th‑Century English Antique Tortoiseshell Masonic Snuff Box With Scrimshaw Decorated Memento Mori Lid
18th‑Century English Antique Tortoiseshell Masonic Snuff Box With Scrimshaw Decorated Memento Mori Lid
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A finely crafted mid‑18th‑century tortoiseshell Masonic snuff box, handmade, circa 1750, and preserved in exceptional condition.
The lid is inlaid with bone and scratch-carved with scrimshaw-work incorporating a skull and crossbones flanked either side by a pillar and bearing the initials "SR, HA, BJ" and the number "32" - perhaps the latter refers to the masonic lodge number.
The warm brown shell displays the rich mottling and natural translucency characteristic of genuine early tortoiseshell, giving the piece a depth and glow that only centuries of age can produce.
Compact and beautifully proportioned, the box was likely used for snuff or small personal tokens, and would have been carried by a gentleman associated with the Masonic fraternity. Pieces of this calibre were often gifted or commissioned, reflecting both status and symbolic meaning within the lodge. The craftsmanship is refined, with smooth surfaces, precise shaping, and a tactile quality that speaks to careful hand‑finishing.
Surviving examples from this period are increasingly scarce, especially in such well‑preserved condition. A superb addition for collectors of Masonic artefacts, Georgian personal accessories, or early tortoiseshell objects.
Provenance: England. 18th century.
Material: Genuine tortoiseshell and inlaid bone.
Condition: Excellent — barely used, minimal signs of wear
Dimensions:
Height: 18 mm → 0.71 in
Width: 65 mm → 2.56 in
Depth: 10 mm → 0.39 in
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