PROBABLY DRESDEN, CIRCA 1740

The tradition of using carved semi-precious stones for decorative snuff-boxes was established in Dresden in the 16th century. The abundance of rich natural mineral deposits around Saxony accounts for the high number of beautifully carved lions, dogs, deer and even fruit that were fashioned from the various agates to be found there. Many of these boxes can be found in museums and the Hermitage has a particularly impressive collection of these carved hardstone boxes from Dresden, see A. K. Snowman, Eighteenth Century Gold Boxes of Europe, Woodbridge, 1990, p. 299, pl. 608-610 and p. 312, pl. 641 and 643.