Snuffbox 1757 - 1758

This is a snuffbox made by J.F.(?)B. in the 18th century. The practice of snuff-taking, inhaling powdered tobacco, was embraced by European elites for its supposed health benefits and social cachet. The box's painted decoration gives insight into the cultural attitudes of the time. We see a hunting scene with a winged quadruped and two human figures. It is a constructed landscape showing the dominance of man over the animal world. This was a popular theme in European art, reflecting a desire to establish control over the natural world and, by extension, to assert power over the perceived 'otherness' of nature. This snuffbox isn't just a container; it's a little stage setting for a specific kind of social performance, steeped in codes of gender, class, and colonial power. It invites us to reflect on the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and our place in the world.