RARE ANTIQUE TRICK OPENING HANDMADE FOLKART SNUFF BOX LATE 1700sEARLY 1800s. RARE ANTIQUE TRICK OPENING SMALL HANDMADE FOLK ART. NAVETTE FORM POCKET SNUFF BOX LATE 1700’s EARLY 1800’s. From the 1600’s through the mid – late 19th century, nearly all men used tobacco; and snuff (finely ground tobacco that was snorted) was the favorite and was quite in vogue. These early snuff boxes in the navette form are scarce & highly sought after. All early examples are handmade, vary in size, shape & materials, and made by skilled craftsmen. Early handmade accouterments such as snuff boxes, have always been desirable due to their distinctive & unusual patterns. This is a Fine, Antique brass Folk Art navette shaped snuff box made from 8 different brass pieces, all held together with hand hammered Iron pins and solder. The base is made from sheet brass with a crude single dovetail type closure that is soldered together. The bottom is also sheet brass with a sight border that is wider than the base that is secured with the two iron pins on both ends that also secure the 2 small handmade brass top flowers with leaves having hand punched dot decoration that act as a washer on the top pivot end and as a stop peg on the opposite side. The cover plate is the same size as the bottom but has an additional 2/3 size plate on the top that is part of the trick opening / closing mechanism. This 2/3 plate is secured to the top with 4 iron pins. This 2/3rds length plate has a brass bar attached at the wide end that is secured to both the 2/3rds plate and the top plate with 2 additional iron rivets and secures the rotating pie shaped closure between the top bar and the added 2/3 plate of the top. This top has notches at both ends. By rotating the top pie shaped locking piece out of its closed position, allows the notch underneath that pivot pin to slide slightly outward, which then exposes the locking notch on the opposite end of the top and allows the entire top to swivel open and access the snuff. To close and lock the snuff box, the top is rotated over the body while aligning the end notch to align with the iron pin; then push the top towards the outside, sliding the notch around the end iron pin to close the top. Then, just swivel the pie shaped locking piece under the top bar to lock the mechanism and seal the contents inside the body. Note the inside of the body, along with the bottoms of the top have deep, dark naturally occurring aging from tobacco reside. The iron pins are hand hammered and show deep dark natural aging. All the parts are handmade and show small variations, such as the punch dot circle patterns and hand chiseled line engraving on the top are uneven. It is also interesting that the circle dot decoration is well represented in the 1700’s and is a carryover from the Medieval period where, combined with other symbols, was thought to ward off evil spirits. Although I have also seen a similar pattern of snuff box reproduced in this form, the side of the body shows the early style of fitting two ends of the body together. All of these handmade characteristics, the 1700’s period navette form, along with natural aging / patina demonstrate its extreme age as dating from the late 1700’s to the early 1800’s. Note: when the pie shaped piece is fully engaged and hidden, to open the box, you need to engage a thumbnail to the thin pie shaped edge and slowly push it open. Being handmade, each varies slightly, and each is one of a kind. This pocket size snuff box is about 2 3/4″ long x 1 5/8″ long X 1 3/8″ wide X 7/8″ tall and intended to be used as a pocket snuff box; but could also have been used as a tabletop snuff box. The brass, Iron & lead construction of this piece makes it substantial and heavy for its size at 2.1 ounces or 61 grams. This piece is finely handmade and shows excellent artisanship and craftsmanship. The bottom shows the lead used to seal all the edges; and lead used throughout is typical construction in these types of handmade antique brass snuff boxes of this period. As can be expected, this piece has been polished over time; but now has a nice, aged patina overall on the outside with an untouched, dark patina on the inside. Usually on these old brass pieces there are dings overall that are commensurate with normal wear; however, this one is in fine condition with, as expected, a few very shallow indentations to the bottom and even a small casting flaw in the sheet brass side. This is a handsome, eye appealing, charming piece of the late 1700’s to early 1800’s Folk Art in fine condition for its age. This would be perfect for any Folk Art, 19th century, snuff, snuff box, tobacco, Tobacciana collection or display, or use as a paper weight, decorator, desk accessory or conversation piece. Exceptions include holidays, power outages, and evacuations. Claims such as doesn’t match description or photos, doesn’t seem authentic, Doesn’t fit, Wrong item sent, Missing parts or pieces, Doesn’t work or defective, Arrived damaged. Due to a myriad of International and U. Listing and template services provided by inkFrog.
