Presentation Snuffbox with a Hunting Scene
Presentation Snuffbox with a Hunting Scene
England, London
1817–1818
Linnit, John
Gold
1.7 × 6.7 × 4.5 cm
Marks: makers mark; London assay mark; English gold and 18 ct standard marks; English duty mark; London date letter B, 1817–1818
The inside of the lid is engraved:Presented to / Augustus Amyatt Esq.re / by his brother sportsmen/ a testimony of Gratitude to the Master of the / Conock Hariers / who, by rendering those Houndsthe most perfect of their kind, / afforded during seven seasons the / Wiltshire Downs /a series of sport unequalled in the annals of huntingand who, by an undeviating urbanity of manners, / proved how happily / Gentleman and Sportsman might be united. / 2nd April 1830.
In February 1823 Lieutenant Augustus Amyatt (?–1857) of the 26th Regiment of Foot retired on half-pay, freeing him to become the Master of the Conock Harriers. This snuffbox, presented to him on 2 April 1830, celebrated the seven seasons during which he rendered the houndsthe most perfect of their kindand so affordeda series of sport unequalled in the annals of hunting. In his will, proven 19 November 1857, he was identified aslate residing at Conock near Devizes in the county of Wilts. When leaving this snuffbox to his nephew, Ernle Warrener, he requested that it should be passed down the senior male lineas a kind of heirloom.
Fittingly, the lid of this box is cast and chased with a frieze representing a fox hunt in a downland landscape. It frames an engine-turned panel engraved with the Amyatt crest and motto: a hind trippant within a garter inscribedAmat et Amatur.
2723MC539/ДПИ