Snuff box - Wood, Brass - IHS

French tobacco box of great charm, an expression of that refined balance between devotion, the decorative arts, and everyday objects that characterizes European production between the 19th and early 20th century. Its body harmoniously combines the warmth of wood with the solidity of gilded metal, creating a material contrast typical of objects intended for an educated audience attentive to symbolism.

On the front rises a rich metal plaque finely worked, dominated by the monogram “IHS” within a radiant sun, a clear reference to the Christian tradition and, in particular, to Eucharistic symbolism. Below unfolds a solemn composition with the chalice topped by the host, an iconographic element that immediately recalls the most important liturgical furnishings, such as monstrances and reliquaries kept in French ecclesiastical treasuries. The decorative side scrolls and the elaborate frame evoke the decorative taste of altars and sacred objects in gilded bronze, giving the tobacco box an almost architectural presence.

The natural patina of metal and wood bears witness to the object's age and authenticity, without compromising its decorative legibility, indeed enriching it with that visual depth so sought after by collectors. This tobacco box is not merely a container for tobacco, but a small work of art, capable of ideally conversing with processional crosses, altar chalices and period devotional objects, fitting perfectly into a collection of French decorative arts or memorabilia tied to the history of smoking and fashion.

The photographs are part of the description.
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