Snuffbox with Engraved Scenes

Description Rendered on the faces of the box are scenes of courting couples. Niello, an alloy of silver, copper, and lead, was rubbed into the engraved scenes and then fired. The darkened areas remained in the depressions when the piece was polished. This technique, dating from the Renaissance, was revived in Russia during the 17th century.

Conservation

Cleaned to remove silver tarnish; coated in cellulose nitrate lacquer to inhibit further tarnish.

Date	Description	Narrative
	Treatment	Cleaned
12/01/1951	Treatment	cleaned
6/20/1959	Treatment	cleaned; coated
1/12/1986	Examination	examined for condition
1/01/1987	Treatment	cleaned; stabilized

Provenance Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Inscriptions On underside: УΒФ АЄГ 1769 / A •[illegible]

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters