Snuff box from Dresden, ca. 1750

This snuffbox, carved from quartz and inlaid with gold, silver, and spiral seashell casings, was crafted around 1750 in Dresden. It depicts the Chinese mythical figure of a guardian lion and its cub, which are seen as protectors in many places in China. Such motifs were popular in Chinoise art and utilitarian objects, such as those made in the workshop of goldsmith Heinrich Taddel (1715–1794).

Snuffbox with Chinese lion-dog and cub, carved from quartz and inlaid with gold, silver and gyroscopic snails, 8.9 cm x 6.7 cm x 2.9 cm, ca. 1750; artist: possibly from the workshop of Heinrich Taddel (1715–1794); image source: © Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, inventory no. Loan:Gilbert.402-2008, https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O156470/snuffbox-taddel-heinrich/.