A rare silver spice box

A rare silver spice box

Rectangular, the smooth body with a double rim at the bottom, the lid with a protruding lower edge and stepped upwards, with a domed octagonal top with a hinged handle in the middle on two rosettes with screws on the inside, and a lock on the inside with four mounting screws visible on the outside.

Arnoldus van Essen became the master of the Groningen guild in 1735 and worked there until 1765. He was trained in England and produced a lot of hexagonal vessels. Many of the decorations he used were inspired by prints of the French Huguenot Daniel Marot, who had fled to the Netherlands. His production included candlesticks, table silver, kettles, bouilloires on stoves, mustard pots, a marrow drill, sprinklers, and a ceremonial trowel.