Octagonal box with arms of Henry Somerset-Scudamore, 3rd Duke of Beaufort (1707–1745)
Medium
Gilded silver
Dimensions
confirmed: 2 15/16 × 4 7/8 × 4 15/16 in. (7.5 × 12.4 × 12.5 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
British, London
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 2019
Accession Number
2019.283.110
Art Historical Context
This exquisite octagonal box, crafted in 1729 by London silversmiths John White and Charles Gardiner, was made for Henry Somerset-Scudamore, 3rd Duke of Beaufort. Measuring just under three inches high, the gilded silver container bears the Duke’s heraldic arms, reflecting the personal luxury items favored by British nobility during the early Georgian period. Its compact size and refined form suggest it served as a practical yet prestigious accessory, perhaps for snuff or small valuables. The use of gilded silver highlights the technical skill of London metalworkers, who combined functional d...
About the Artist
John White|Charles Gardiner (American) · 1856 –1915
American, Allegheny, Pennsylvania 1856–1915 New York