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Snuff and sweet boxes

Mythological scenes, often based on contemporary engravings, were popular subjects in the eighteenth century for the decoration of snuff boxes and bonbonnières (boxes for sweets). The boxes displayed here include individual images of gods and heroes such as Hercules, Apollo, Mars, Venus and Cupid, as well as scenes from texts such as Homer’s Iliad and Ovid’s Metamorphoses. A number show allegorical figures representing recurring themes, such as Time and Love.

Henry Bodson (active 1763-90)

Snuff box

French

Box

French

Box

Antonio Angelo Amastini (1754-c. 1816)

Snuff box with a cameo of Apollo

Hans Mella (active c. 1650)

Box

Jean Baptiste Fouache (active 1775-81)

Snuff box

John Northam (active 1824)

Gold box

? Italian

Box

Jacques Ballin (active 1760)

Bonbonnière