The round drum-form box pierced with vertical staves and scrolling foliage,
centering a lozenge engraved in contemporary conjoined script EMM,
above a French gadrooned footrim,
the pull off top also with French gadrooned rim and reeding,
centering a gadrooned circular extinguisher / cutter

Bougie boxes of a pierced nature are exceptionally rare.

"Bougie" is French for candle,
and so named by the French for an Algerian city known for trading in candle wax.
Their use dates from the early 18th century on the Continent and the mid-18th century in England.

These small cylindrical boxes held wax-taper coils,
the cover having a small hole through which the coiled taper could emerge for lighting.
In England, the bougie box became a piece of desk equipment, similar to the wax jack,
for lighting heating sealing wax.
They were more practical than the wax jack for traveling –
thus often doubling as a source for lighting.
Bougie boxes were usually made from more precious materials than wax jacks –
therefore favored more only by the wealthy.

Condition : Excellent, with only very minor scuffing to the top with revolving cutter movement

2.75" High / 2.75" Wide / 4.5 oz.

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#7851

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Rare George III Pierced Silver Bougie Box, Edward Aldridge II, London 1768  

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