Rights Holder: Royal Institution of Cornwall
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
TOBACCO HOLDER
Unique ID: CORN-49DF11
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
Handle from the lid of a cast lead tobacco jar, lozenge-shaped in plan and domed in profile. The handle is in the form of an eight-petalled flower with a central, conical knop projecting from the slightly curved collar of petals. There are faint traces of black material on the upper face of the handle which suggests that it was originally lacquered to protect the lead from corrosion and powdering and to look like a finer metal. On the reverse there is an integral stud which has a lead washer on it, otherwise the lid is missing. It is 24 mm long, 19.5 mm wide and 16 mm in height with the protruding petals about 4 mm in thickness. It weighs 11.66 g.
Bailey (2000) illustrates a similar tobacco box handle on page 62, in Figs.1-2, which he dates to the middle of the 17th century and states that the lead boxes were used to keep tobacco moist. It is likely that this form of tobacco jar is popular into the late 18th century.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1650
Date to: Circa AD 1800
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 24.5 mm
Height: 16 mm
Width: 19.5 mm
Thickness: 4 mm
Weight: 11.66 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Tuesday 14th January 2014
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Materials and construction
Primary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Fragment
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Cornwall (Unitary Authority)
District: Cornwall (Unitary Authority)
Parish or ward: St. Clement (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SW8246
Four figure Latitude: 50.27362537
Four figure longitude: -5.06076685
1:25K map: SW8246
1:10K map: SW86SW
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bailey, G. | 2000 | Detector Finds 4 | Chelmsford | Greenlight Publishing | 62, Figs.1-2 |
Similar objects
Find number: CORN-345A0A
Object type: TOBACCO HOLDER
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
Handle from the lid of a cast lead tobacco jar, circular in plan and domed in profile. The handle is in the form of an eight-petalled flower …
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: WAW-3CB866
Object type: TOBACCO HOLDER
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
The handle from the lid of a cast lead alloy tobacco jar of Post Medieval date, about AD 1600 - 1800. In plan it is a lozenge shape, and the …
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: WAW-B04D64
Object type: TOBACCO HOLDER
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
The handle from the lid of a cast lead alloy tobacco jar of Post Medieval date, about AD 1600 - 1800. It is in the form of an eight-petalled …
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618