7/9 His image among the French was that of a democratic folk genius from the wilderness, an image he exploited it brilliantly. His face appeared everywhere—on medallions, on snuffboxes, on candy boxes, in rings, in statues, in prints; women even did their hair à la Franklin. In violation of all protocol, he dressed in a simple brown-and-white linen suit and wore a fur cap, no wig, and no sword to the court of Versailles, the most formal and elaborate court in all of Europe. The French aristocracy and royal court loved him. As a result of his efforts, Franklin secured diplomatic recognition and financial loans for the colonies. Perhaps most importantly, his efforts led to the signing of the Treaty of Alliance in 1778, which formalized French military and financial support for the American cause and France's fleet's eventual participation in the Battle of Yorktown in 1781. Ben Franklin was also the critical force in negotiating the Peace of Paris in 1783 that ended the Revolutionary War.

Within this context emerged the mechanical snuffboxes of the Parisian house Joly, Chenevard & Jouvet, renowned for combining jewel craftsmanship with philosophical metaphor.

Shell Snuffboxes, 2nd half of the 19th century, from the Sosenko Family Collection Foundation. These elegant little objects were made from seashells set in gold mounts with delicate pearl-like decoration. Everyday luxury from a time when even a snuffbox could be turned into a miniature work of art.

I do not believe—and never have—that a European-style revolution is possible in Muscovy: one for freedom, for rights, for liberties, for honor. As has happened many times with us. The historical experience of Muscovy is turmoil, bloody criminal uprisings, and a long history of palace coups. Tsars and general secretaries were strangled with scarves, had their heads smashed with snuffboxes, were shot in basements, or left to die for days in pools of their own filth. When today yet another pro-war “Z” correspondent or a propagandist who until recently was fully loyal to the Kremlin hurls insults at Putin, he is expressing the general mood of that environment—the environment of yesterday’s loyalists. They despise and hate the tsar, see him as responsible for a pathetic failure—a weakling, a fool, an idiot. And this feeling of contempt becomes so strong that it outweighs fear. This is an important stage on the road to the “snuffbox.” Discontent, quiet grumbling, even hatred among the entire population—from convicts to oligarchs—means little. But widespread contempt and the perception that the tsar is weak and foolish—that is something entirely different. That is already the groundwork for February 1917. Still, one should not expect Putin’s fall anytime soon. And one should not hope that “good Russians” will come to power after him. Most likely, absolute hardliners with a Prigozhin-style vibe will take over. By the way, it’s hard not to recall that whole Prigozhin episode—it was a kind of prologue, a false start of the very process we are witnessing now. But turmoil in Muscovy has always been our chance. There will be turmoil. P.S. In the photo — Ust-Luga, a key Baltic port for Russian oil exports, burned by Ukrainian drones.

These Historic Snuffboxes Associated With 18th-Century Monarchs Were Stolen in a Shocking Heist. Now, They're Back on Public Display - smithsonianmag.com/smart-new… @smithsonianmag

seeing enlightenment era snuffboxes has me wishing there were dark age poppers

Franklin became an instant phenomenon in Paris, where his portrait appeared on medallions, rings, and snuffboxes. French aristocratic women even copied his fur cap in a fashion called the “coiffure à la Franklin.”

Good morning! Goodish news! 5 of the 7 -18th-century snuffboxes, from the Louvre, British Royal collections & the V&A, stolen during the violent burglary at the Cognacq-Jay Museum last November were recovered thanks to the police. The search continues for the 2 missing works.

and 2023, next to 18th-century snuffboxes and containers. It highlights how items that we no longer have much connection with have lived on in the present age. Decorative arts, in particular, have been neglected by museum goers in the past few decades, as these items are not

Happy in my #weekendwork #silver #snuffboxes #vinaigrettes coming up in #Hawleys #October18th #auction #lovemyjob

He was fond of giving out snuffboxes - it's quite a masculine one, isn't it?

🗡 Armors, sabres, travel kits, watches, and #snuffboxes provide a vivid glimpse into the daily experience and material culture of an officer in the early 1800’s.

A black Slave asking "Am I Not a Man and a Brother?" became an international symbol of the abolitionist movement. The image was widely reproduced during the late eighteenth century, appearing on crockery, snuffboxes, and jewelry, among English abolitionists. The 302.

or snuffboxes, believe me I check

🪷Created in #Paris around 1810, it combines gold, silver, enamel, and exquisitely detailed #painting. A true work of art. Snuffboxes were often personalized and sometimes contained secret messages, making them much more than mere accessories — they often told a private story.

"Huis Doorn" is a manor house in #Doorn (Utrecht), originally built in the 13th century and rebuilt several times through the 19th century. After World War I, exiled German Emperor Wilhelm II purchased it in 1919 and took residence from 1920 until his death in 1941. He brought 59 train cars of personal furnishings and artworks, including marquetry commodes, tapestries, porcelain, silver, snuffboxes, and uniforms. The gardens combined 19th-century English landscaping with features added under Wilhelm II. He is buried in a mausoleum on the grounds, alongside five of his dachshunds.

Over 50 rare artifacts from the #privatecollection of David and Mikhail Iakobachvili will be displayed: imperial #portraits, snuffboxes, antique clocks, everyday objects… Each piece carries the memory of an era of glory and refinement. 📍 : Grimaldi Forum Monaco 🗓 July 2025

GOLD DIGGERS OF 1935 (1935) Dick Powell is hired by Alice Brady to escort her daughter, Gloria Stuart, while Stuart's fiancé, Hugh Herbert, completes his book on snuffboxes. Guess what happens. The score is good, even though the picture is terrible—in a pleasant sort of way.

Sobering to think that Freud and Marx were once considered major thinkers. "The mechanism of substitution [in obsessional thinking] is a normal one. When an old maid keeps a dog, or an old bachelor collects snuffboxes, the former is finding a substitute for her need for a companion in marriage, and the latter for his need for a multitude of conquests! Every collector is a substitute for a Don Juan Tenorio, and so too is the mountaineer, the sportsman, and such people." FREUD, 1895, 'Draft H. Paranoia.'