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An Irish Antique Puzzle Ball - For Snuff, Rouge, Coins Etc
Opus Antiques
sold SA1220644
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Opus Antiques

Opus Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2014
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    Antique treen, boxes & decorative georgian items
Id #SA1220644
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An Irish Antique Puzzle Ball - For Snuff, Rouge, Coins Etc

19th century
Description

This is a really nice Irish puzzle ball box. It is made from arbutus wood, often confused with yew wood. Decorated with circles, the centre of one circle pushes out to release a lidded box , which would have been for storing snuff, rouge or coins in.

The puzzle ball measures 4.6cm w.

Arbutus wood is native to parts of Ireland, the shrub flourishes in damp, mild conditions. The wood was used to make souvenirs for wealthy tourists, starting in the early 1800s. The industry grew and furniture, chess boards etc were made

Declaration

Opus Antiques has dated this Antique Irish Puzzle Ball to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1220644
Dealers Notes

Own a piece of history

Description
This is a really nice Irish puzzle ball box. It is made from arbutus wood, often confused with yew wood.
“
Decorated with circles, the centre of one circle pushes out to release a lidded box , which would have been for storing snuff, rouge or coins in.
Opus Antiques
fig 1. A spherical carved dark brown wooden puzzle ball featuring concentric circular grooves on its outer surface.
fig 1. An Irish Antique Puzzle Ball - For Snuff, Rouge, Coins Etc

The puzzle ball measures 4.6cm w.

Arbutus wood is native to parts of Ireland, the shrub flourishes in damp, mild conditions. The wood was used to make souvenirs for wealthy tourists, starting in the early 1800s. The industry grew and furniture, chess boards etc were made

Date of Manufacture

Opus Antiques has dated this Antique Irish Puzzle Ball to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1220644
Opus Antiques
Opus Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2014

Antique treen, boxes & decorative georgian items

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Opus Antiques Profile Page

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A spherical carved dark brown wooden puzzle ball featuring concentric circular grooves on its outer surface.
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Archive I A spherical carved dark brown wooden puzzle ball featuring concentric circular grooves on its outer surface.

An Irish Antique Puzzle Ball - For Snuff, Rouge, Coins Etc

Archive II A spherical carved dark brown wooden puzzle ball featuring concentric circular grooves on its outer surface. View II
Archive III A spherical carved dark brown wooden puzzle ball featuring concentric circular grooves on its outer surface. View III
Archive IV A spherical carved dark brown wooden puzzle ball featuring concentric circular grooves on its outer surface. View IV
Archive V A spherical carved dark brown wooden puzzle ball featuring concentric circular grooves on its outer surface. View V
Enlarged Archival View
Opus Antiques

Opus Antiques
Telephone 07941 285 532
Location
North Devon
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/opusantiques
Verified Since Oct 2014
Items For Sale 91
Items Sold 2,374
Opus Antiques
Opus Antiques
Verified Since Oct 2014
View Dealer Info
Location: North Devon, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/opusantiques
Verified
Oct 2014
For Sale
91
Sold
2,374
A spherical carved dark brown wooden puzzle ball featuring concentric circular grooves on its outer surface.
An Irish Antique Puzzle Ball - for snuff, rouge, coins etc
Ref: SA1220644
A spherical carved dark brown wooden puzzle ball featuring concentric circular grooves on its outer surface.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Archival Detail

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FAQs

An antique Irish puzzle ball is a small spherical container, often carved from native woods, featuring hidden opening mechanisms or threaded closures historically used to store snuff, rouge, or small coins.

Craftsmen typically utilised dense hardwoods such as bog oak, yew, or fruitwood, which allowed for precise lathe-turning and intricate carved detailing.

Authentic 19th-century treen exhibits natural wear patterns, smooth patination from handling, subtle irregular turning marks from period lathes, and minor shrinkage consistent with aged timber.

Small decorative treen objects function well when arranged in curio cabinets, displayed atop stacks of books, or positioned alongside brass accessories on an office desk or mantelpiece.

Dust the wood regularly with a soft dry cloth and apply a thin layer of natural beeswax paste polish annually to maintain hydration and protect the original patina.
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