Georgian Table Snuff Box

A fabulous papier mache table snuff box celebrating Britain’s Victories over, amongst others, France.

The lid emblazoned with the Hanovarian Coat of Arms over trophies of war whilst around the sides are designs of cannons, shields and regimental colours; successful ploughs and a plentiful cornucopia. The base decorated with an eighteenth century Royal Navy First Rate Ship-of-the-Line flying the Red Ensign, surrounded by the legend ‘Britain’s Glory & Defence. Britain Strike Home’. The decoration achieved by incising the soft black lacquer before gilding and over-painting this gold with red and green, as appropriate.

Britons, Strike Home! was originally an air written for a theatrical production by Henry Purcell in 1695. It was popular during the various wars of the 18th and early 19th centuries.

This box made circa 1795.

dia:3 1/8 inch x 1 5/8 inch