ANTIQUE HAND CARVED FOLK ART
COQUILLA NUT POCKET SNUFF BOX ~ circa 1825
This is a rare Antique french small pocket snuff box, hand sculptured from Coquilla nuts.
Depicting music instruments on one side such as guitar, harp, trumpet, notes.
Other side are hunting riding accessories such as whip, rifle, weawed prey bag.
The top lid has a center carved panel of archery weapons arrow, bow, it's bag the quiver and a lighting torch.
CONDITION: nice mint handcarved details. Small chip at the hinge and the natural 3 holes are uncovered. These holes might have been stuffed with seal wax and later seal wax was removed. Please examine the photos as a visual part of the description.
The Coquilla nut is the fruit of the Brazilian Palm, and is related to the coconut palm. The mature nut is about 3-4 inches long; and the hardness and the rich tan color of the shell when it is highly polished makes it ideal for a variety of pocket sized hand crafted items. From the 18th Century to around the middle of the 19th Century or so, nearly all men (and women) used tobacco; and snuff (finely ground tobacco that was snorted) was a favorite and quite in vogue. Coquilla snuff boxes are known in a variety of different shapes & sizes. They are almost always have excellent craftsmanship, and date from the late 1700's up to about 1850 or so. Some are oval shaped, some elongated rectangular shaped, and this one has a base that is 3 dimensionally carved in a rectangle shape with domed top, bottom, front and back. The oval shaped ends are 3 dimensionally carved from separate nuts and affixed as end caps. Some of these have hand carved scenes on one or more sides depicting religious, military, nautical, domestic scenes, or as a memento / keepsake / love token. All are hand made, many are one of a kind, and were created by a skilled artisans; mostly by sailors on War Ships or trade vessels who had lots of idle time on their hands, and made carved items for sale to shops in the ports they visited, or as keepsakes for love ones. This piece has an unusual variety of patterns that suggest this was a Sweetheart Love Token.
Most of these carved boxes are unique, and the carvings may appear mystical and hard to decipher; but had special meaning to the carver. Of the different styles in Coquilla snuff boxes, this style is considered top of the line, with all surfaces profusely and deeply 3 dimensionally carved, with separately carved 3 dimensional end caps.
The base is a U shaped single piece of the 3 dimensionally sculptured Coquilla nut. The ends are 3 dimensionally detailed and attached to the sides. The top is a separate piece carved with a lip in front and attached by a handmade 3 prong brass hinge. All natural material shrinks over time, and most of these boxes no longer create a tight fit due to naturally occurring aging after nearly 2 centuries. However, the hinged lid has no wiggle, and when closing, has perfect alignment with the base, and actually snaps when shut. Note the inside of the lid is concave due to the shape of the internal seeds, and is in it's original unfinished condition. Remember, this snuff box is old as dirt; yet this piece shows very little to no wear for it's extreme age of an object that was intended to be carried around in a pocket and used several times a day for a decade(s).This piece has a beautiful light tan / medium, brown naturally occurring patina overall on the outside, with an untouched, rough cut finish on the inside. Overall, this piece is in exceptional, untouched condition that collectors love to see; with no damage, repairs or alterations. This pocket snuff box is 3" wide X 1.5" deep X 1.5 " tall, and could also have been used as a table top snuff box.This is a charming, eye appealing piece of early 1800's Antique Folk Art is in Minty condition, and would be perfect for any Folk Art, snuff, snuff box, tobacciana, tobacco, smalls collection or display; or use for knickknacks, a ring box, a paper weight, decorator, desk accessory or conversation piece.
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