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Pieces of iridescent shell or mother of pearl were often used to decorate snuffboxes in the 18th century. However, this Dutch snuffbox is carved entirely from a very large piece of shell, likely taken from a pearl oyster. Given its size, it was probably imported from the warm Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean, or South Pacific. It is intricately carved to depict the biblical story of the miraculous parting of the Red Sea by Moses to save the Israelites fleeing Egypt.

Page data

Page
4
Source index
0
Type
photo
Media ID
b5a9f275e5df9ca2
Size
unknown

Document data

ID
39810
Core
obj
Type
object
DTO data
{
    "id": "39810",
    "sourceUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/57.107",
    "contentType": "object",
    "stage": "normalized",
    "title": "Cartouche-Shaped Snuffbox",
    "description": "Pieces of iridescent shell or mother of pearl were often used to decorate snuffboxes in the 18th century. However, this Dutch snuffbox is carved entirely from a very large piece of shell, likely taken from a pearl oyster. Given its size, it was probably imported from the warm Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean, or South Pacific. It is intricately carved to depict the biblical story of the miraculous parting of the Red Sea by Moses to save the Israelites fleeing Egypt.",
    "provenance": "George Robinson Harding, London;  Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1914, by purchase;  Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.",
    "date": "early 18th century",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/57.107",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Gold, Silver & Jewelry",
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    ],
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    "thumbnailUrl": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PL9_57.107_Fnt_BW_H60.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PL9_57.107_Fnt_BW_H60.jpg",
    "imageCount": 4,
    "pageCount": 4,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensions": [
        {
            "units": "cm",
            "width": 2.5,
            "height": 6
        }
    ],
    "dimensionsRaw": "1 x 2 3/8 in. (2.5 x 6 cm)"
}

Context sent to Scholar

Document identity
{
    "localId": "39810",
    "label": "Cartouche-Shaped Snuffbox",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/57.107"
}
Document source metadata
{
    "id": "39810",
    "sourceUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/57.107",
    "contentType": "object",
    "stage": "normalized",
    "title": "Cartouche-Shaped Snuffbox",
    "description": "Pieces of iridescent shell or mother of pearl were often used to decorate snuffboxes in the 18th century. However, this Dutch snuffbox is carved entirely from a very large piece of shell, likely taken from a pearl oyster. Given its size, it was probably imported from the warm Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean, or South Pacific. It is intricately carved to depict the biblical story of the miraculous parting of the Red Sea by Moses to save the Israelites fleeing Egypt.",
    "provenance": "George Robinson Harding, London;  Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1914, by purchase;  Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.",
    "date": "early 18th century",
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    "rightsUri": "CC0",
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    "imageCount": 4,
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    "dimensions": [
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        }
    ],
    "dimensionsRaw": "1 x 2 3/8 in. (2.5 x 6 cm)"
}
Document source extras
{
    "med": "mother-of-pearl, gold",
    "creator_ids": [
        "6227"
    ],
    "collection_ids": [
        "EAN"
    ],
    "exhibition_ids": [
        "2689"
    ]
}
Page context
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    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/raw/PL9_57.107_Fnt_BW_H60.jpg",
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