Bourgoin: Solid Silver Snuffbox, Late 18th Century - Revolution. Farmers General

A silver snuffbox dating from the late Ancien Régime, specifically the Revolutionary period, with a rare and original shape.

The snuffbox is oval, made of plain silver. The base is deeply curved to fit comfortably in a trouser or jacket pocket.

The opening and base are adorned with wide, triple-ribbed moldings.

The interior of the box has a superb, thick, black patina resulting from the oxidation of the silver by tobacco.

The snuffbox is hallmarked:

Letter A within a gridded circle: Parisian assay mark for the year 1789

Crowned letter P: guild mark for the year 1789
Maker's mark: DB with a heart for Denis Bourgoin, registered in 1777. Referenced in 1793. The archives mention a goldsmith of the same name, a specialist in snuffboxes, still active in 1806. This is probably the same person.

Discharge mark: a vine leaf

The hallmarks indicate a date of manufacture of 1789, but in reality, they were used until 1792.

A magnificent snuffbox with this very rare shape for a piece hallmarked with the Farmers General mark. Boxes with such a curved shape are usually later, from the Empire period. This design is therefore very innovative for its time and may even be a prototype that would achieve the success we know it for.

This is a very high-quality box, heavy and with thick walls. A true rarity for a snuffbox collection.

9 x 3.5 cm
2.9 cm high

108.37 grams

Very good condition. Minor dents and scratches from use, nothing serious.

Collection in Paris or shipping via insured Colissimo.

France: €15
Europe: €20
Rest of the world: €35