FAMOUS TOBACCO BOX

Evening Star, Issue 19855, 2 May 1928, Page 10

FAMOUS TOBACCO BOX

A WESTMINSTER TREASURE One of the most treasured possessions of Westminster was exhibited at the 214th annual dinner of the Past Overseers’ Society of St. Margaret and St. John, held at the Empire rooms of the Trocadero, the famous Westminster Tobacco Box being transferred to its new custodians with time-honoured ceremony. Since the last anniversary gathering an addition has been made to its panels, which record historic events of many past generations. The origin of the Westminster Tobacco Box dates back tc 1713, in which year Henry Monck, one of the overseers, presented the society with a small oval box purchased at the annua! “Horn Fair” at Charlton for 4d, and capable of bedding about 3oz of tobacco. In course of time this became the cherished talisman of the society, and it was the custom to add some new rim, plate, or ornament as each set of overseers passed out of office. The original horn box, with six rinis, added between 1720 and 1747, was placed in an oval case, decorated with eleven bands and engraved plates contributed between 1749 and 1782. Additional cases, one oval and one octagon, wore added, and then a metal circular casket and a rosewood octagon cabinet with sixty-nine silver additions of various kinds, affixed between 1827 and 1877. This, with its five enclosures, was placed in an octagon case, with plinth, intermediate plinth, handles, and a domelike cover, surmounted by a silver canopied statuette of (Jueen Victoria. It was made in 1878 from a beam removed from Westminster Abbey, and bears over forty embellishments, which are added to annually. The additions of 200 years have increased the dimensions of the Box from about 3in by Sin to about 24m across. 40in high, 60in round the panels, and 79in round the base; in weight it has grown from a few ounces to rather over a hundredweight. No estimate of its value is possible, for, apart from the great intrinsic cost of the accumulated silver, neither the records nor the engravings and ornaments could bo replaced.