S/4698 Antique 19th Century Sea Bean Snuff Box

A most attractive sea bean (entada gigas) snuff box, which is in lovely condition and of a good rich natural colour and patination. The pods, which contain these beans, are members of the pea family and are native to Africa, Central America and the Caribbean. When released, the bean, because it has a hollow cavity, which gives it buoyancy, floats and when washed into rivers and finally the ocean, it can drift vast distances, so because of this they were occasionally found washed up on the shore. This one has been silver mounted and made into a most tactile snuff box.

Sold 1¾ in. (4.5 cm.) Wide
¾ in. (2 cm.) Deep
1¾ in. (4.5 cm.) High
English Circa 1840