an antique georgian lead tobacco box of irregular octagon form, cast in relief with prince of Wales armorials and with a frieze of passementerie in relief around the uppermost edge and the base also around the lip of the domed lid which is topped with a finial in the form of the plume of prince of Wales feathers. the box retains some original colour.
length ... 100mm ... width 75mm ... height to top of finial 110mm
the sides of the box are decorated with the three Prince of Wales feathers, ostrich feathers, with the motto "ich dien" meaning "I serve". the crest is a symbol of the heir apparent to the British throne, originating with Edward, the Black Prince, in the 14th century, adopted from either his mother's Hainault family or as a trophy from the Battle of Crécy, representing chivalry and service. the presence of the prince of Wales feathers on this tobacco box relates to George III's son George, prince regent who became an extravagant figure before his own reign, it may have been manufactured as a celebration of his investiture or possibly as an official gift.
the demand for a box capable of retaining moisture in processed tobacco grew in the georgian times with the increase in popularity of smoking and availability of tobacco. the impervious nature of lead made it the ideal material to make a storage box for the product. at first the boxes were quite simple in design, simple geometric shapes, as demand grew the boxes became more elaborate and expensive reflecting the status of the owner. the boxes were often kept in a prominent position in the house, usually on the mantlepiece or table top in the parlour or receiving room. they were items designed to be seen, used during social gatherings, the contents being shared or offered to guests. tobacco was expensive, to own a tobacco box was a sign of wealth.
