Cruikshank Snuff Box Circa 1820's at South Coast Antiques & Gallery in Ocean Springs, MS.

Cruikshank Snuff Box Circa 1820's

This is an 1820s wooden japanned snuff box, large but thin to fit into the coat pocket of gentlemen of the period with a decoupaged image on the front.  Originally, decoupage was created using colors and varnish over a print, known in England as “The Art of Japanning” in the 1700s, copying the lacquer work of Japan and China.  That’s why this box is black and red, simulating oriental pieces.  It shows men playing cards and attended by a liveried servant bringing drinks, a copy of George Cruikshank’s A Game of Whist.

Detail of Life in London Image

The picture is a reference to a scene from the smash hit play Tom and Jerry or Life in London by William Montcrieff, which  ran at the Adelphi Theater in London from 1821 to 1823, which itself was based on a popular 1821 book by Pierce Egan called Life in London or Days and Nights of Jerry Hawthorne and His Elegant Friend Corinthian Tom.  The popular drink “Tom and Jerry” was created by Egan in the early 1820s to promote his book.

Compare Original  Cruikshank Print to the Snuff Box

This snuff box was probably sold inside or outside the theater where the play was showing.  The play was highly popular and later ran for years after the Adelphi show closed and even was playing in New York by the middle 1820s.  As a side note, this play had a part for African-American Billy Waters, who was a colorful street person.  Now over 180 years after the book and play the only thing left is the drink, Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters and a snuff box.

Inside Snuff Box

Inside Lid

 If one would like to read the original book by Pierce Egan called Life in London or Days and Nights of Jerry Hawthorne and His Elegant Friend Corinthian Tom, both it and it's squeal are available at Project Gutenberg.

This snuff box is currently on view and available at South Cost Antiques & Gallery in Ocean Springs, MS