An extremely rare George III 'Double Compartment' Snuff Box made in Birmingham in 1808 by John Lawrence.

This very rare example has a curved form and displays an upper shallow compartment and a lower deeper compartment in order to carry two different types of Snuff. The sides are engraved with twisted rope work designs and the cover and base are unusually decorated with stylised Spitalfields silk designs. These patterns are occassionally seen on silver boxes and caddies and were copied from the silk designs which the weavers produced in Spitalfields. The interior is finely gilded and the cover displays a vacant oval cartouche. Double Snuff Boxes are particularly scarce and examples seldom turn up on the market. This piece is very well marked and is in excellent condition.



Length: 2.6 inches, 6.5cm.

Width: 1.25 inches, 3.13cm.