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Snuff box
Gold snuff box presented to Sir George Biddell Airy (1801-92) by the General Steam Navigation Company in 1838.
It is decorated overall with applied, cast foliage on a matte ground. The inscription inside the lid reads: ‘Presented to George Biddell Airy Esqre ASRONOMER ROYAL &c. &c. &c. BY THE General Steam Navigation Company On his discovery of an effective Corrector of the influence of Local Attraction upon the Compass in Iron Steam Ships 30 AUGUST 1838’.
Airy was appointed Astronomer Royal in June 1835, a post he held for forty six years, and in 1875 he was presented with the freedom of the City of London in a gold and enamel box (see PLT0002). The silver-gilt inkstand presented to him by the River Dee Company is also in the NMM (ZBA0773).
It is decorated overall with applied, cast foliage on a matte ground. The inscription inside the lid reads: ‘Presented to George Biddell Airy Esqre ASRONOMER ROYAL &c. &c. &c. BY THE General Steam Navigation Company On his discovery of an effective Corrector of the influence of Local Attraction upon the Compass in Iron Steam Ships 30 AUGUST 1838’.
Airy was appointed Astronomer Royal in June 1835, a post he held for forty six years, and in 1875 he was presented with the freedom of the City of London in a gold and enamel box (see PLT0002). The silver-gilt inkstand presented to him by the River Dee Company is also in the NMM (ZBA0773).
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Object Details
| ID: | ZBA0803 |
|---|---|
| Collection: | Decorative art |
| Type: | Snuff box |
| Display location: | Display - ROG |
| Creator: | Strachan, Alexander James |
| Date made: | 1808 |
| People: | Harley, Annette; Airy, George Biddell General Steam Navigation Company Airy Collection |
| Credit: | National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London |
| Measurements: | Overall: 27 mm x 78 mm x 50 mm x 240.1 g |
| Parts: | Snuff box |