{"product_id":"rare-18th-century-antique-treen-misers-snuff-box","title":"Rare 18th-Century Antique Treen Miser's Snuff Box, circa 1750-1820","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Arial\" size=\"4\" style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eA rare antique fruitwood \"miser's\" snuff box, the lid richly carved with a Marian devotional programme: at the centre, the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception in the Iberian or Southern European tradition — the Tota Pulchra type — shown in glory with flanking angels and attendant saints, inscribed S. MARIA. Surrounding roundels contain putti or cherubim in various poses; six-pointed stars punctuate the field.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Arial\" size=\"4\" style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Arial\" size=\"4\" style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eSo named for the spring-loaded or gravity-operated sliding inner disc that conceals the snuff cavity, requiring a specific technique (typically pressing the boss and tilting) to reveal the contents. The mechanism discouraged casual borrowing from fellow snuff-takers, hence the sobriquet.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Arial\" size=\"4\" style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Arial\" size=\"4\" style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003eThe box is in good, working condition and has a pleasing colour and patina. Turned from a single piece of dense close-grained fruitwood — with the characteristic end-grain base visible in Image 6, confirming lathe-turned construction from the solid. The milled or gadrooned rim edge is a hallmark of quality treen work of the period.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Arial\" size=\"4\" style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Arial\" size=\"4\" style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance\u003c\/strong\u003e: The iconographic scheme strongly suggests Iberian or possibly Southern French Catholic origin, circa 1750-1820. \u003cspan\u003eMiser's snuff boxes with religious decoration are well-documented in Pinto's *Treen and Other Wooden Bygones.* Plain examples are common, devotionally decorated examples considerably less so.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Arial\" size=\"4\" style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Arial\" size=\"4\" style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial\u003c\/strong\u003e: Fruitwood.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Arial\" size=\"4\" style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Arial\" size=\"4\" style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e: Good.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Arial\" size=\"4\" style=\"font-family: Arial; font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions\u003c\/strong\u003e:  Diameter 8 cm (3.15 inches)  x Height 2.25 cm (0.89 inches)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Holt Antiques at Walsingham Mill ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53176548360534,"sku":"HAFmiserssnuffbox","price":475.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0782\/7462\/5878\/files\/Screenshot-20260420_195144_eBay-Photoroom_1.jpg?v=1776715264","url":"https:\/\/holtantiquefurniture.com\/products\/rare-18th-century-antique-treen-misers-snuff-box","provider":"Holt Antiques at Walsingham Mill ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}