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.