Antique Early Treen 17th Century Sailors Snuff Box in the form of a Sperm Whale - Dated 1659

Here is a wonderful chance to buy one of the earliest snuff boxes I have bought in my career...and probably one of the earliest pieces of treen in the country for sale at the moment....I bought this from a private collection, so it is fresh to the market...and I have to say it really has thrilled me to have owned it.... maybe only for a short while....this amazing piece of treen is made of teak, as were the timbers used for ship building in the 17thc....it is in the form of a sperm whale....it is dated 1659 and initialled R.H....my conclusion is that it belonged to a sailor working on board a cargo ship, who saw a sperm whale and carved it out of a piece of teak from an offcut that he found on board ship....all this when Oliver Cromwell was coming to the end of the Commonwealth period..! The snuff box is in excellent condition with a fine natural colour and handles as a 17thc piece of treen would, with well worn detail and a date you can just make out, which is what you would expect from a piece this age with shrinkage and wear....it is a real privilege to have found and owned this very special piece that has survived 367 years....just think of its voyage to me..! English. C1659.