Snuffbox 1755 - 1756

Editor: Here we have a snuffbox, made around 1755 or 1756 by Jean Ducrollay. It’s metal and enamel, currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It feels so delicate, almost fragile in its intricate design. What social narratives might this small object reflect? Curator: That’s a wonderful observation. Snuffboxes like this weren’t mere decorative items. They were potent signifiers of status, deeply interwoven with the social rituals and power dynamics of the 18th century. Editor: Power dynamics? In a little box? Curator: Absolutely! Think about who had access to luxury goods like this. Snuff, and consequently snuffboxes, were part of a culture of conspicuous consumption among the elite. This piece broadcasts leisure and wealth. It’s important to consider the labor involved. Who mined the materials? Who crafted the delicate enamelwork? Whose labor underpinned this luxury? These objects participated in a broader system of inequality, even oppression. What do you notice about the imagery itself? Editor: Well, there’s a definite pastoral scene; very romantic. Perhaps a symbol of leisure? Curator: Exactly! These idyllic scenes often masked a very different reality for the majority of the population. The art creates and reinforces a narrative of effortless beauty and aristocratic privilege. Does that influence your impression of the object, knowing this? Editor: It definitely shifts my perspective. I initially saw beauty but now I see how that beauty is intertwined with a system that enabled it at the expense of others. Curator: Precisely. Recognizing this helps us to understand not only the artwork itself, but also the social and political context it inhabited. These seemingly small objects held big meanings!