Produced to hold snuff and set on a desk or counter, large snuff mulls like this were prestige items to show the owner’s wealth and hospitality. The top is worked in silver wire piqué work saying “Red Deer Hoof, Killarney with a shamrock in the center surmounted with a deer over all. The text is situated to be read while holding the snuff mull, but is inverted when setting on a table.
The Irish red deer were becoming very scarce in the 1820s and by the Irish Famine of 1845-1847, they were driven to near extinction. Only the area of Killarney harbored herds of red deer. By the 1860s their numbers dropped to only 1,500 in all of Ireland. Protection and careful maintenance of the deer brought the deer back from extinction when there were only 60 deer known in 1900. Now, while still endangered and elusive, the Irish deer number in the hundreds.
This Irish red deer hoof snuff mull was made at a time when trophies were taken by the wealthy on estate lands and given as gifts between lords. This piqué work snuff mull is nearly perfect despite being around 200 years old. This rare Irish snuff mull is currently available at South Cost Antiques & Gallery in Ocean Springs, MS
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