Snuffbox

Art Historical Context

This delicate snuffbox, crafted by Jacques Le Bas around 1760–1800, exemplifies refined artistry of British Staffordshire enameling. Made of enameled copper and measuring just 1⅜ × 3⅛ × 2½ inches, it served as a luxurious accessory for carrying powdered tobacco—a fashionable habit among 18th-century European elites. Adorned with scenes featuring books, men, women, the box reflects the era's Enlightenment interests in literature and genteel society, capturing intimate vignettes in vibrant, translucent enamels. Staffordshire enamellers, active from the mid-1700s, perfected techniques like painting on copper and firing in kilns to achieve jewel-like colors and durability. This method transformed humble metal into portable treasures, rivaling French porcelain or goldsmithing. Le Bas, known for his engravings, likely contributed designs that were translated into enamel, blending Continental elegance with British craftsmanship. Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection—thanks to J. Pierpont Morgan's 1917 gift—this snuffbox highlights the global exchange of luxury goods during the Georgian period. Pause to appreciate its intricate details, a window into the refined tastes of the time!

About the Artist

Jacques Philippe Le Bas · 1707–1783

Comment on works: Engraver