A FRENCH ENAMELLED GOLD-MOUNTED WOOD AND LACQUER SNUFF-BOX

Sourced from an evergreen conifer, Thuya wood is primarily native to the Atlas mountains of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia in north-west Africa. The most desirable parts of the wood are obtained from the burrs that are located underground within the large roots of the tree. Whilst rarely used by English cabinet makers and box makers, Thuya wood tended to be more favoured by their French counterparts, who often used it in conjunction with similar exotic materials such as lacquer.