George IV Sterling Silver Snuff Box London 1826

Description

Heading :George IV sterling silver snuff box with parcel gilt interior
Date : Hallmarked in London in 1826 for Alexander Strachan
Period : George IV
Origin : London, England
Decoration : Embellished with machined decoration with central armorial. Parcel gilt interior with dedication.
Size :  8.5cm x 6cm, 2.4cm height
Condition : Excellent – there is a softening to the high points but no significant damage to the exterior. Patch of gilt loss to the top of the dedication to the interior.
Restoration : None
Weight :  167 grams (5.4 troy)

Dedication reads: To Mr Douglas Fox / This box was presented Sept 6th 1826 / by the members / of the Derby Mechanics Institution / as a small but grateful memorial / of the kindness disinterestedness and ability / which he manifested in  the delivery / of a gracious course of lectures / for their improvement in chemistry / and a knowledge of the most important functions of the Human Body / during the winter of 1825-6.

Notes:

Mechanics Institutes sprang up around Britain in the 19th century for the education of the adult working classes. The movement started with lectures given by George Birkbeck in Glasgow. Birkbeck attracted crowds of 500 for his talks on natural philosophy. The institutes housed libraries and sometimes museums as well as hosting lectures on a diverse range of topics as well as readings (Dickens performed at the Derby institute) and musical performances.

Such was the influence of the institutes that some of them exist today in different forms – the London Mechanic’s Institute is now Birkbeck College, and the Edinburgh School of Arts is now Heriot-Watt University.