Snuff box

1875-1920

Measurements

2-1/2 in x 2 x 2-1/2 in

Materials

Glazed and enameled porcelain

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, The David Wilson Mansion, Inc.

Accession Number

1971.989

Provenance

Ex coll. Mrs. E. Tatnall (Mary Corbit) Warner

Comments

This figural snuff box continued a long tradition of small, interesting boxes made for snuff, a refined and scented smokeless tobacco intended to be inhaled through the nose.  It is likely that this particular snuff box was made more as a souvenir than something for snuff.  The portrait appears to be of rural individual, meant to create memories of traveling to a certain place.  

The snuff box survived among the many, many objects associated with the Wilson and Corbit houses of Historic Odessa that had been acquired and preserved by Mary Corbit Warner.  An early accession record for this snuff box states that it contained a piece of paper, presumably written by her, stating that it belonged to Captain James Jefferis, father of Ann, who married David Wilson Jr. in 1808.  That same paper seems more likely to refer to another snuff box of 18th century origin, accession no. 1971.976.  Assuming Warner did own this figural snuff box, she likley purchased it herself as a memento of a trip.