Snuffbox
1745–46
Medium
Silver, parcel gilt
Dimensions
Overall: 1 × 2 3/8 × 2 7/8 in. (2.5 × 6 × 7.3 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
French, Paris
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of John L. Cadwalader, 1914
Accession Number
14.58.207
Art Historical Context
This exquisite snuffbox, crafted by Parisian silversmith Antoine Dar around 1745–46, exemplifies the opulent metalwork of Louis XV's France. Made of silver with selective parcel gilding—where gold leaf is applied to highlight specific areas for a luxurious contrast—it measures a compact 1 × 2 3/8 × 2 7/8 inches, perfect for slipping into a gentleman's pocket. Daroux, a noted maker whose mark appears on high-end pieces, contributed to Paris's renowned tradition of silversmithing, where guild regulations ensured exceptional quality. In the Rococo era, snuffboxes like this were more than utilita...