Arthur Stone Arts & Crafts Sterling Silver Snuffbox or Pillbox, Gardner, MA, c. 1915

This rare sterling silver box was made by Herbert Taylor, one of the leading silversmiths at the Arthur Stone shop. The detachable lid has a beautiful arts & crafts design of foliate scrolls and circle decoration. The central oval is engraved with a 'EFC' monogram.

While the other artisans in Stone's shop raised objects, the chasing was done by Stone himself until 1925. Most of the silver from Stone's shop features very little chasing, if any at all. Only the nicest pieces to leave the shop were decorated like this. This style of decoration - inspired by renaissance foliate arabesques and strap work - is also quite rare from the Stone shop. Simple, usually floral, motifs are much more common. This may mean the box is slightly earlier than we date it, however the shop mark on this box does not appear to have been used before about 1910.

This lovely box is marked underneath with Stone's impressed hammer mark along with 'STERLING/ T'. The 'T' denotes work by Herbert T' Taylor (one of only seven silversmiths who achieved the honor of 'Medalist' within the Society of Arts & Crafts). The number 7 is also impressed on the inside of the cover and box. The box measures 2.5 inches long by 1 inch high by 1.75 inches deep and weighs 1.75 troy ounces. It is good antique condition with light wear to the highlights. The lid fits quite tightly, which would be appropriate for a snuffbox.