Pocket watch case? Snuff box? Something else?

Hey, all. Very cool case of some kind? The clock dials are a combination lock. Not quite 4" wide. The pics are not mine, it belongs to someone else. Thank you in advance...

 

I am so sorry for the duplicates? I'll try and figure out how to delete them?

 

The moon moves as well to reveal a hole?

 

For your stash

 

Old or newish?

 

This one claims mid 19th century?

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/6201973

 

I see that Susan has nailed it, it's an early to mid 19th C snuffbox. I have sold a few of these, if closed when you get then they can take a while to work out, the pointers are geared to the center wheel which permits the catch to open only in one position. As far as I know they were all individually made, not a factory product but a bit of personal craftsmanship.

 

very cool. this would be an easy to sell item. people seem to really dig this sort of thing. I do!

 

I think some are mistaking crudeness for age

It appears to me to be a mid 1900s item that was produced for quantity rather than quality

 

Thanks, AF. Owner wants a guesstimate of current value? Anyone want to take a stab at that?

Hey Sal!!!

 

I found a few in google images. I like this one the best.

https://www.google.com/search?q=19t...box-having-combination-lock-to-lid%2F;500;375

 

Also, where were these made? India and exported to Britain?

 

Without having the thing in hand, I do not think it is a modern repro. If there had been lots of them around, I'd see them. They are quite rare and I have never seen two the same. The use of IIII for 4 instead of IV is typical of clock dials of the period and not what a modern creator would chose. The moon and sun have what must be described as conventional 'period' faces, that would have been seen on moonphase longcase clock dials by an artisan of the period.

 

I have seen similar with names or places that seem to indicate they were mostly Welsh made.

Compare also a search for brass tobacco boxes.

 

This is fun and interesting! Too bad it's not mine.

Using the word tobacco, more come up in search. The first link shows one saying late Georgian, which would put it in the early 1800s. If I am reading it right?,
the second link shows one in a museum in Finland calling it German 1688?

Two completely different types? Or, had they been around that long?

http://www.auctionatrium.com/index.php?page=view_item&itemID=14445&row=1

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...8_-_National_Museum_of_Finland_-_DSC04267.JPG

 

I have never seen one that I could confidently date earlier than 'about 1800' but they have been around for quite a while. An inscription will significantly increase the value.

 

Thanks again. He said it was his grandfather's. Not that his grandfather was that old, but it belonged to him.

 

Regarding the Finnish entry.
I don't believe a clock face like that existed in 1688. The number is most likely in reference to something other than the year. The backwards 4 may mean a less educated maker.

 

They had been around for over 100 years at that time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_eggs