Snuff box, c.1840 (wood)

Creator: unknown This wooden snuff box was made from the timbers of the brig 'Black Joke'. It has bamboo pattern borders. The lid of the snuff box shows a view of the ship fully rigged. The back and sides are carved in deep relief with representations of African life; the front is similarly carved with a scene copied from the medal commemorating the abolition of the slave trade in 1807. During the 1820s when the Royal Navy was active in suppressing slave trading between Africa and the Americas, H.M. Brig 'Black Joke' (once a slaver herself) was one of the most active and best-known vessels engaged in this role. She worked off Australia until 1839 when she sailed for China via Singapore and was sold for the last time at Macao.