George III Sterling Silver Snuff Box with Snaking Design
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George III sterling silver snuff box, hallmarked London, 1809, Jw (Joseph Willmore), of rounded oblong form, with a hinged cover decorated with bright cut snaking design against a cross hatched ground, with 'Jw' engraved monogram within laurel to center, with gilt wash interior, total weight 21.48gm, length 5.8 cm
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- Laurel Leaf - The use of the laurel leaf as a decorative element can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome, where it was closely associated with victory and honour. In these cultures, the laurel was a sacred tree that was dedicated to the god Apollo and was believed to have protective and healing properties.
In ancient Greece, the laurel wreath was awarded to victors in athletic competitions, such as the Olympic Games, as a symbol of their achievement. The wreath was also associated with academic achievement, and was often worn by scholars and poets. The Greeks also used the laurel leaf as a symbol of victory in war, and it was often depicted in artwork alongside images of triumphant warriors and heroes.
The Romans continued this tradition, and the laurel wreath became a symbol of the highest military honor, the triumph, awarded to victorious generals. The wreath was also used to crown emperors and other important officials, and was often depicted in Roman art and architecture as a symbol of power and authority.
The laurel leaf is still used as a symbol of achievement, success, and excellence, and is frequently used in logos, emblems, and other branding materials. Its association with victory and honour has made it a popular choice for awards, medals, and other forms of recognition. - Sterling Silver - Sterling silver is a mixture of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of another metal, usually copper. Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver, and is relatively soft and the addition of the very small amount of copper gives the metal enough strength and hardness to be worked into jewellery, decorative and household objects.
- Cross Hatching - A decorative technique used in art, decorative arts, gilded frames and furniture to indicate light and shade through sets of parallel lines crossing each other at an oblique or right angle. The lines can be incised or engraved, as on metalware and ceramics, drawn or painted as in works of art and ceramics, or carved or applied as in furniture and mirrors. When used in art, the lines are usually very close together, whereas when used on ceramics, frames or furniture the lines may be much further apart effectively creating a square or diamond shape, which may contain further decoration.
- George Iii - George III (1738 - 1820) was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1760 to 1820.
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