Silver Snuff Box

Art Historical Context

Behold the delicate rendering of a *Silver Snuff Box* Horace Reina, created between 1935 and1942 as part of Index of American Design. This and colored pencil drawing on paper (30.4 x 23 cm) meticulously captures a diminutive silver original—measuring just 5/8 inch high, 3 1/4 inches long, and 2 1/8 inches wide—showcasing the refined craftsmanship of early American silversmiths. Reina's precise lines and subtle hues bring to life the box's elegant form, likely an 18th- or 19th-century artifact used for storing powdered tobacco, a fashionable accessory among the elite. As a key work from the Index of American Design, a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project during the Great Depression, this piece served a vital cultural mission. Launched in 1935, the IAD employed artists like Reina to document thousands of everyday American objects—from folk art to industrial design—through accurate, colorful renderings. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection, it preserves vanishing traditions, highlighting silverwork's role in colonial and early federal-era luxury goods. Reina's technique exemplifies the IAD's emphasis on technical fidelity: graphite for fine details and colored pencil for lifelike tones, making historical treasures accessible. For visitors, it's a window into America's design heritage, where even a snuff box whispers stories of refinement and daily ritual.