The Wallace Collection
Subtitle: catalogue of gold boxes
By: Charles Truman ; with contributions from Seoyoung Kim, Rebecca Wallis
Contributors: Truman, Charles, author; Kim, Seoyoung, author; Wallis, Rebecca (Curator), author
Publisher: Wallace Collection
Published: 2013
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 375
ISBN-13: 9780900785948
Subjects: Gold boxes; Catalogs; Wallace Collection (London, England); History
Other titles: Catalogue of gold boxes
Description: Of exquisite workmanship, the Wallace gold boxes share the elaborate richness of the larger-scale French 18th century art in the collection, but on an intimate and jewel-like scale. Most of the boxes were made in Paris during the 18th century and were used as snuff containers. Whilst there were boxes of this kind made in gold before 1700, it was the popularity of snuff-taking that necessitated the development of a container, which came to be of such luxurious nature that it became the most significant royal gift and the ultimate fashion accessory across the whole of 18th century Europe. Here Charles Truman, former curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, discusses the history of snuff and snuff-taking as well as the development, manufacture, decoration and collecting of gold boxes.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 364-367), glossary and index.