Vintage Mullinshead Brass Tobacco Box, Made in England
Viridian Eclection
The Piece
A small oval brass box with a hinged lid, made to be carried in a pocket. The brass is machine pressed and engraved.
One side shows a tavern and barrel scene with the words CORN WILLSON 1772 engraved beneath it.
The other side depicts three figures with banners, above the inscription These three unite in the Same Cause, This Snuffs that smoaks the other Chaws, a playful political and satirical slogan of the eighteenth century.
The underside is stamped Mullinshead and Made in England.
History & Provenance
Boxes of this type are known as tobacco boxes or snuff boxes. They were common pocket accessories for men of the eighteenth century, used to carry snuff, which is powdered tobacco.
The Corn Willson 1772 engraving refers to a well documented eighteenth century political snuff and tobacco box, often produced as a commemorative in England. The originals were crafted in brass or copper and carried patriotic or satirical messages.
The Mullinshead and Made in England stamps on the underside place this example as a twentieth century reproduction rather than an original of the 1770s. It was likely made in the 1940s or 1950s, when interest in Georgian and colonial tobacco antiques revived and such boxes were sold as curios, collector's items and gifts.
Product Details
| Era | Twentieth century reproduction, likely 1940s to 1950s, after an original English box of 1772 |
| Maker | Mullinshead |
| Origin | England |
| Form | Small oval pocket box with hinged lid |
| Materials | Brass, machine pressed and engraved |
| Marks | Underside stamped Mullinshead and Made in England. Engraved CORN WILLSON 1772 to one side, and the inscription These three unite in the Same Cause, This Snuffs that smoaks the other Chaws to the other |
| Dimensions | Pocket sized. Exact measurements to be confirmed |
| Condition | To be confirmed |
Why It Belongs in Your Home
The appeal of a box like this is in the engraving. Two full scenes and a piece of eighteenth century satire are worked onto a surface that fits in a palm, and the brass has the weight that makes it worth picking up.
It is honest about what it is, a mid twentieth century English reproduction of a Georgian commemorative, which is how most collectors encounter the pattern at all.
It belongs on a desk, a dressing table or a library shelf, holding pins, stamps or nothing, and it sits naturally among tobacco antiques, Georgian revival pieces, or a group of small brass.
Every piece is packed with professional-grade materials: multiple foam layers, double-boxing, directional and fragile handling labels. For large furniture we use custom timber crating. We photograph packing before dispatch and can provide images on request.
White-glove delivery is complimentary within 100 miles of Reno, NV. National shipping quotes provided at checkout. All shipments are photographed and documented. Damage claims must be filed with the carrier; we provide all documentation needed to support your claim.
Local pickup is available at Viridian HQ (Reno, NV) with 2–4 days notice. Contact us to arrange. Private viewings also available.
All antique and vintage items are sold as described and all sales are final. Each listing includes detailed condition notes and photographs so you can make a fully informed decision. We encourage buyers to ask questions — about condition, dimensions, finish, provenance — before purchasing.
Antiques are irreplaceable and one-of-a-kind. Carrier handling is outside our control once a piece has left our facility, and major carriers including FedEx do not insure antiques. We do everything within our power to ensure safe transit, but cannot accept liability for carrier damage. If damage occurs in transit, we will provide full documentation to support your carrier claim.
Have a question? — we're happy to provide additional photos, condition detail, or discuss the piece directly.
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