Unusual Artifacts: A Snuffbox from King George III

Gold Presentation Box with
Cipher of King George III
Alexander James Strachan, 1809-1810
Purchased by Queen Elizabeth II
The Royal Collection

We go now from Bourbon Street to Georgian snuffboxes—King George III, that is. It seems that one of the things a monarch does is give gifts to important people. Giving these “presentation gifts” was a particular skill of King George III who favored gifts of watches and snuffboxes above all others.


This gold presentation box was a gift from George III to a now unknown recipient. The box is gold which has been chased with English Oak leaves. The center of the box has been embellished with a blue enameled circle inset with a George III’s cipher set in diamonds. On the reverse, the box is inscribed with the maker’s mark of Alexander James Strachan—an artisan known for his exceptional gold-work boxes. Strachan’s work was retailed through the Royal Goldsmiths at the time, Rundell, Bridge and Rundell, who almost certainly secured the commission for him.

Though snuff is not quite the fashion these days, I wouldn’t turn down one of these boxes. However, George III doesn’t seem to be handing out as many as he did in 1809.