Snuffers tray (part of a toilet service)
1683–84
Medium
Silver gilt
Dimensions
Overall: H. 1 1/4 x W. 8 x D. 6 in., 8 oz. 1 dwt. (3.2 x 20.3 x 15.2 cm, 0.25kg)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
British, London
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Fletcher Fund, 1963
Accession Number
63.70.17
Art Historical Context
This exquisite snuffers tray, crafted in London by the silversmith marked I. H. between 1683 and 1684, forms part of a luxurious toilet service—a coordinated set of silver tableware used for personal grooming on a dressing table. During the late Stuart era under Charles II and James II, such services were coveted symbols of wealth and refinement among the British aristocracy, showcasing the owner's taste and social standing. Measuring a compact 1¼ x 8 x 6 inches and weighing just over 8 ounces, this tray held snuffers—tools for trimming candle wicks—highlighting the era's reliance on candles f...