Lincoln College Oxford Silver Snuff Box, 1850
£360.00
Snuff Box - Rectangular with Engraved Decoration - Birmingham 1850 by Edward Smith - 6.5cm x 4.3cm; 65g - YJ/4059
We are offering a lovely Victorian silver snuff box with an interesting engraved inscription to the front cover.
The quality of engraving to both the top and underside of this pocket snuff box is top drawer, with the underside especially displaying a lovely wave of floral scrolls. To the centre of the cover is the inscription:
"Lincoln College
Scratch Fives
W.W. Merry 1861 GHP Evans"
Within the inscription are the coat-of-arms of Lincoln College, Oxford. Founded in 1427, Lincoln College is one of the oldest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford. Fives is an English public school handball game played within a three of four-sided court and presumably in this instance matched in pairs with Merry & Evans emerging victorious. The scratch element refers to the match being made up from players temporarily making up each pair.
The box is in fine condition with crisp decoration. The gilding to the interior has a few stains from use and there are some small dings to the cover (visible only from the inside). Made in Birmingham by Edward Smith, this is an excellent antique silver box.
