Germany, Hanau

circa 1840

Charles Collins & Söhne, (fl. 1837 - after 1870)

Gold, diamonds, enamel; engraving, embossing, guilloche, enamel over guilloche

2.1 x 8.9 x 6.2 cm, 134 gr

Barcode on the bottom lid inner side: "2624 9704"

  Rectangular multicolor gold, enamel and gem-set snuffbox with rounded corners, top with large central rectangular panel applied with diamond set steam locomotive flanked by two cushion old European-cut diamonds on matt background within the engraved Arabesque border applied with diamond set crossed spike-hammers in the corners, framed by a stiff-leaf and blue enamel border and surrounded by a stylized leaf outer border decorated with translucent blue, red and green enamel, sides and base similarly decorated with engine-turned panels.

the snuffbox

undoubtedly commemorates the opening of one of the European

railroads, which were established in rapid succession on the

Continent after 1828. In that year, Austria and France built their

first lines, and Belgium, Germany, Russia, Italy and the Netherlands

followed in the 1830s