Double snuffbox 1740 - 1755

Editor: This delicate porcelain object, dating back to the mid-18th century, is titled "Double Snuffbox" and was created by the Meissen Manufactory. Its ornate design and small size give it a precious, almost fairytale-like quality. What do you see when you look at it? Curator: The Rococo style is practically screaming from this little container! I see potent symbolism, not only of wealth and status that the material and decoration conveys, but also cultural aspirations tied to these ornate objects. Think about it – snuff, and beautiful boxes to contain it, become symbolic of refinement, intellectual conversation, and social ritual. Editor: So, the very act of taking snuff becomes performative? Curator: Precisely. The boat image on the lid – a vessel, a journey – hints at aspiration, exploration. Also consider the very personal and somewhat intimate act of taking snuff – the box literally comes close to the body, conveying a personal identity. These containers become powerful, mobile symbols in miniature. And the highly decorative botanical motifs mirror a culture increasingly captivated by natural science and cataloguing the world. What message do you think people were trying to convey when they used it? Editor: Perhaps a combination of worldliness and sophisticated taste? It's fascinating to think how much cultural weight could be loaded onto such a small item. It makes you wonder about the unwritten social scripts involved in even the simplest actions. Curator: Absolutely. Even today, we often underestimate how laden with meaning even our most casual habits can be!