The Steinkabinett-Tabatières made in Dresden from the late 1760s by Christian Gottlieb Stiehl and Johann Christian Neuber – set with numbered specimens of Saxon hardstones and sometimes accompanied by a written or printed catalogue – were both a celebration of the mineral riches of the territory and a reflection of a growing interest in mineral specimens and geology. Towards the end of the century collections of snuffboxes made from single hardstone specimens were being formed.
This snuffbox is a reflection of the fashion for cataloguing hardstones and celebrating their individual qualities. The purpose as a specimen box is suggested by the identification ‘LABRADOR’ stamped on the lid of the original fitted case

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