Snuff Box

This snuff box is part of a collection of objects related to the British royalty at the time South Australia was colonised. It features a picture of King William IV.
King William IV reigned from 1830 to 1837 and was succeeded by Queen Victoria. King William IV was married to Queen Adelaide at the time of the establishment of the colony of South Australia and their legacy remains not least through the naming of the state's capital after Queen Adelaide.
Snuff taking was established in Europe by the mid 16th century. During the 18th and 19th centuries it was very popular and many different types of snuff boxes in a wide variety of materials were made. It is difficult to determine the original material in this particular box as it has been heavily painted and lacquered. The picture of King William IV is indicative of its time period when royalty was often portrayed as well as events or scenery.
It is an oblong box of wooden appearance. The lid is hinged on the back interior. The cover has an inlaid square of mother of pearl, hand painted. The entire box is lacquered inside and out. The lid rests upon the wide rim of the base and extends slightly into the base section. The interior is of much lighter colour, a red mahogany, in contrast to the black exterior.