Snuffbox with presentation inscription 1795

This gold snuffbox was made by James Kennedy in the 18th century, a period when the rituals of tobacco consumption intersected with elite social practices. The engraved inscription transforms a functional object into a commemorative gift, signaling social status and political allegiance. The visual codes on the lid – weaponry, heraldry, and elaborate flourishes – speak to the importance of military prowess and aristocratic identity in the social structure of the time. To understand this object more fully, a social historian would look to records of gift-giving in the 1700s, and perhaps examine the family history of the recipient. These kinds of research resources can help us to understand the role of luxury goods in solidifying social bonds and establishing hierarchies. The meaning of this snuffbox lies not just in its intrinsic material value, but in its function within a specific social and institutional context.