Lambert Torrens - Snuff box - Canelada and Guilhoché - .833 silver

Among the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, snuff boxes were objects of social distinction, used by aristocrats, the bourgeoisie, and public figures. They were often personalized with inscriptions, crests, or monograms, functioning as symbols of etiquette and refinement. In the nineteenth century, European workshops produced models with engraved decoration and classical lines, such as the present specimen, which combines functionality with artisanal workmanship of high quality. The interior is vermeil-coated, preserving the original golden hue. The hinged lid functions correctly; it has only a small alignment discrepancy of about 1.5 mm, fully consistent with the piece’s age and without impact on the proper operation of the catch.

The piece displays several marks characteristic of the Liège control system:

- Manufacturer’s mark “LT,” attributed to the silversmith Lambert Torrens, active in the early nineteenth century
- Control mark “D,” corresponding to the local inspector
- “hand” mark, typical of the city of Liège
- “laurel branches 2” mark, certifying silver 833.

Weight: 73 g
Dimensions: 8 × 5 × 1.5 cm
Material: silver 833 (see marks)
Interior: vermeil
Decoration: fluted and guilloché
Origin: Liège, Belgium
Period: post-Napoleonic, 1814–1831
Condition: very good, with wear normal for age
The marks present on this box belong to the Liège system of marks used between 1814 and 1831, a period that marks the transition between the French punch regime imposed during Napoleonic rule and the restoration of regional Belgian marks. After 1814, Liège workshops resumed using their own marks, such as the “laurel branches 2” (silver 833), the city’s control letter, and the “hand” punch, characteristic of this phase of administrative reorganization. The LT mark, attributed to silversmith Lambert Torrens, also fits within this post-Napoleonic context, reflecting early nineteenth-century local production.

Dear bidders, the photos are part of the lot description."} } } {