Snuifdoos van goud, ovaal, met een als vlechtwerk ingelegd mozaïek van bandagaat en kornalijn. Op het deksel een festoen van robijn en diamant 1770

Editor: This is a gold snuffbox created around 1770 by Johann Christian Neuber, and it features a mosaic made with bandagate and cornelian. It’s quite small, I imagine. Looking at all the interwoven lines and miniature flowers, it feels incredibly ornate, a little dizzying even. What are your initial thoughts about it? Curator: It whispers of status and sophistication. Think about what a snuffbox signified in the 18th century: participation in a refined social ritual. Its owner announced their wealth and taste through this very object. This is emphasized by the gemstones, particularly the placement of rubies and diamonds where the eye expects preciousness, crowning the box's contents. Editor: The materials do seem to be the point here, showing the owner's riches. But why all the intricate mosaic work? Curator: The mosaic goes beyond mere opulence. Notice the basketweave pattern. What does a basket evoke? Something commonplace, something made to carry what’s truly valuable. Here, that value is reframed in precious materials, inverting ideas of both labor and worth. What do you make of the floral arrangement on the lid? Editor: I see roses, maybe some carnations…things that we associate with love and beauty. Curator: Precisely. They are conventional, universally recognized symbols. These flowers, juxtaposed with the basketweave mosaic, suggest a tension between conventionality and individuality. Even the act of taking snuff transforms. What was once habit is now ritual, performance, identity. Editor: I hadn't considered the personal aspect of something mass-produced. Seeing it as a personal symbol helps makes it more meaningful. Curator: It all comes down to how cultural values and personal identity are embedded in even the smallest objects. It invites us to ponder about wealth, performance, status, and artistry.