A boxwood snuff rasp, carved in low relief with the figure of Eloi, wearing cope and mitre, shown standing at an anvil and holding a crozier, within attributes of tools, titled St. E, the French Royal Arms above, dated 1734, the obverse with the initials I. P. below a floral urn, the steel lacking, French, second quarter of the 18th century -- 9¼in. (23.5cm.) long.

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A boxwood snuff rasp, carved in low relief with the figure of Eloi, wearing cope and mitre, shown standing at an anvil and holding a crozier, within attributes of tools, titled St. E, the French Royal Arms above, dated 1734, the obverse with the initials I. P. below a floral urn, the steel lacking, French, second quarter of the 18th century -- 9¼in. (23.5cm.) long.
See Illustration.

Lot Essay

Similar examples of this snuff rasp are illustrated, Domestic Utensils of Wood, Owen Evan Thomas, 1932, plate 35.

Eloi (Eligius) c. 588-660. A craftsman in metal born near Limoges, under the Frankish king, Coltaire II. He was made bishop of Noyon (Oise), c. 641. Eligius is the patron saint of gold- and silversmiths
and farriers.

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