Papier-mâché snuff box

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This papier-mâché snuff box is decorated with a picture of Ralph Richardson & Co's Snuff Manufactory in West Bow in Edinburgh. The company was in business from the late 18th century until the middle of the 19th century.

In the picture foreground, hogsheads of tobacco can be seen being hoisted into the factory.

Tobacco taking was popular in Scotland from the mid-17th century. Scots became addicted to it in all its forms, whether smoking, chewing or snuffing. Snuff was known as the 'sneeshin' and a snuff box was a 'sneeshin-mill'.

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• Online ID: 000-100-001-615-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.NQ 426
• Date: Between the late 18th and mid 19th century
  
• Material: Papier mâché. Inscription: On lid: _ WESTBOW RALPH RICHARDSON & CO DRYSALTERS OILMEN TOBACCO & SNUFF MANUFACTURERS RALPH RICHARDSON & CO [royal arms] / on front: RICHARDSON SNUFF MANUFACTURERS EDINBURGH
  Snuff box
  
• Dimensions: 88 mm x 65 mm x 25 mm
  
• What: Snuff box
  
• Subject: Tobacco pipes, snuff boxes (NMAS Classification)
  
• Who: Ralph Richardson and Co., Drysalters, Oilmen, Tobacco and Snuff Manufacturers, Westbow, Edinburgh (Maker)
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Oblong snuffbox of papier-mâché with a painting on the lid, by Ralph Richardson and Co., Edinburgh
  
• References:
• Translations:
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