Tobacco box 1782

This silver tobacco box was crafted by Johannes Schiotling, a Dutch silversmith active in the late 18th century. Its existence speaks volumes about the social rituals surrounding tobacco use during that era. The elaborate decoration, with its floral motifs and classical references, elevates a simple container to a status symbol. It reflects the growing global trade, the rise of a wealthy merchant class, and their desire for luxury goods. Made in the Netherlands, a nation with a powerful trading history, the box is an example of conspicuous consumption and a culture of mercantilism. How did social rituals influence the design of functional objects? What can the history of tobacco tell us about global trade networks? These are just some of the questions we can explore when we examine objects like this tobacco box through a social and institutional lens.