Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Snuffbox with Engraved Scenes
(18th and 19th Centuries )
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.
Inscription
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Conservation
| Date | Description | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment | Cleaned | |
| Treatment | Cleaned to remove silver tarnish; coated in cellulose nitrate lacquer to inhibit further tarnish. | |
| 12/1/1951 | Treatment | cleaned |
| 6/20/1959 | Treatment | cleaned; coated |
| 1/12/1986 | Examination | examined for condition |
| 1/1/1987 | Treatment | cleaned; stabilized |
Geographies
Russia, Velikiy Ustyug (Place of Origin)
Measurements
1 1/8 x 2 5/16 in. (2.8 x 5.9 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
57.720