An Exceptional Snuff Box Depicting a Fiddler given as a present by the daughter of the !st Duke of Cleveland.
This beautifully carved snuff box of a cobbler playing his fiddle is by Ferdinand Stromburg. The carving is quite exceptional and gives real depth to the box. Note the detail to the lid including the stool, table, bird cage, shoe, tools etc.
Interestingly on the inside of the lid is a silver plaque engraved with the words' Presented by The Lady Augusta Henrietta Millbank to the Rev P Stubbs Oct 25th 1840?'.
Lady Augusta Henrietta Millbank was an English aristocrat from a prominent noble family. She was born on 26 December 1796 at Staindrop, County Durham as a daughter of William Henry Vane, 1st Duke of Cleveland and Lady Catherine Margaret Powlett. Marriage and family:On 2 June 1817 She married Mark Milbank a Yorkshire landowner, magistrate, and later Member of Parliament at St. James’s in Westminster, London on 2nd June 1817. Together they had a large family with several sons and daughters.
As the daughter of a duke (the Duke of Cleveland), Lady Augusta belonged to the British aristocracy of the period. Her husband’s estates were notably Thorp Perrow and Barningham Park in Yorkshire which were significant country properties.
Rev Stubbs was likely to be the parish rector or vicar and maybe it was a retirement present.
The box measures 9.0cm l x 6cm w x 2.3cm d.
