Snuffbox 1755 - 1765

This snuffbox was created by the Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory in the mid-18th century. During this time, porcelain snuffboxes were popular accessories among the upper classes, reflecting a culture of luxury and social ritual. This particular piece, with its masked face, alludes to the masquerade balls popular among the European elite. These balls were a space where social hierarchies were temporarily blurred, and people could experiment with identity and anonymity. Yet, the mask also hides the individual, creating a tension between revelation and concealment. The mask could be seen as a tool of liberation or oppression, and in the context of race relations the act of masking can become extremely complex. This object invites us to reflect on the complexities of identity. What do we choose to reveal, and what do we conceal? In what ways do these choices reflect the society we live in?