Lot 354
Aberdeen - a rare Scottish provincial fox mask snuff box
WILLIAM JAMIESON
Scottish Silver & Applied Arts
Auction: 17 August 2016 from 12:00 BST
Description
marked WJ, ABD, the foxes mask box with cased fur, mouth ear etc, with flush hinged cover engraved with crest and motto dated 1811
Dimensions
7.3cm long, 3.1oz
Footnote
Note:
Only one other Scottish silver foxes head mask snuff box is recorded, also by William Jamieson of Aberdeen. This example is held within the collection of Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museum. Inspired by the more common English examples formed as snuff boxes and stirrup cups, thease cups are rare survivors in Scottish silver terms.
Although fox hunting had been a popular sport in early 19th century Scotland, the production of accessories seems to have been unusual. Perhaps the sport did not attract as wealthy or wide ranging support in the north as it did in the Scottish Borders and indeed in England.