Snuff box

1778 - 1778

“Shake the snuff from your fingers before closing the snuffbox and then blow on the box several times …” This meant: come to the box and I’ll slip you a little note. It is an example of how Governor-General Charles Alexander of Lorraine made clever use of the snuffbox in a secret code, as recorded in his diary. It gives us a flavour of life at court in Brussels during his governorship.

• Actors

  Warquant, Antoine (Maker)

• Places and dates

  Ath, 1778 - 1778 (Production)

• Materials

  Silver

• Category

  Smoking materials

• Object number

  S75/32

• IPR status

  Public domain