18th-Century Green Jasper Snuff Box

Mounted in delicate 18K yellow gold openwork is this exquisite 18th-century English snuff box formed from green jasper. For over 300 years, master artisans created and designed elegant snuff boxes using precious metals, stones, minerals other luxurious materials. They were among a gentleman's most expensive and elegant personal effects, and soon became collector's items. Wealthy and fashionable men would have a fair number of them and often offered them as gifts. The finer 18th-century examples such as this are most desirable.

Green Jasper, also known as "Bloodstone" (due to the red dotting of reddened hematite giving the appearance of blood) or "heliotrope", is a form of chalcedony that has been highly regarded and utilized since antiquity, and was even believed to have the power to make one invisible, bring forth a solar eclipse and preserve health. During the 18th century, the stone was carved to create important decorative and utilitarian objects such as seals, signet rings, perfumes and especially snuff boxes, particularly in the countries of England and Germany.

English, circa 1740

1 5/8" diameter x 1 1/16" high