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| Scottish Provincial Silver Snuff Box - William Bremner, New Harbour Works, Wick, 1868
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Reference: S11093
Period: Victorian
Year: 1868
Silversmith:
Place: Wick
Price: $ 880.00
Weight: 82 grams
Dimensions: 7.8 cm * 4.8 cm, height 1.3 cm
Condition: Very good, snug closure, hinge works perfectly, slight gap above lid hinge. Few small dents, original scroll engraving worn, inscription engraving clear and crisp.
Description: An interesting Scottish Provincial silver snuff box, presented in Wick in 1868. The box is rectangular, the construction is unusual with a solid wedge shaped lid, overall the box has a hand made feel, slightly crude in finish, the hinge is a little wonky. The box is quite heavy and solidat 82 grammes. The box is engraved with worn scrolls on the lid and front side, this contrasts with the clearer engraving, we assume the box was made earlier and the engraving added later in 1868. It reads "From LJB, Wm Bremner, New Harbour Works, Wick, 1868". No hallmarks are present. This box has an interesting history, Wick was once the world's largest herring fishery port. The harbour was improved and expanded in 1831, James Bremner (we assume father to William), the notable Scottish naval architect, completed the work using ingenious near vertical flagstones, still visible today. Between 1863 and 1868 the harbour was improved again (the New Harbour Works) by adding a breakwater comprised of stone Jennies, it was designed by Thomas Stevenson, father of the famous Scottish novelist Robert Louis Stevenson, who described the project as "the chief disaster of my father's life" (the breakwater was destroyed by a storm in 1877). An obelisk was erected in 1903 in Wick harbour to commemorate James Bremner, still present today (see photograph). We assume William Bremner, the recipient of this box, was a relative (son perhaps?) of James Bremner, who died before the New Harbour Works project of 1863-1868. We have included a photo of William "Bronkie" Bremner, 1846-1934, who was possibly the recipient of this box.
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Scottish Provincial Silver Snuff Box - William Bremner, New Harbour Works, Wick, 1868
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Obelisk, Wick Harbour
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William Bremner
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Wick Harbour James Bremner
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James Bremner portrait
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James Bremner memorial
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Wm Bremner - william bremner
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New Harbour Works, Wick, 1868 - silver box
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Scottish Provincial Silver Snuff Box open
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Scottish Provincial Silver Snuff Box reverse
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Wick silver snuff box, bremner
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