This Louis Vuitton President Briefcase encloses a very rare and unique table "snuff mull" in the form of a scrolling horn that was formerly at Edinburgh's famous Lawnmarket Club. The use of snuff, had by the mid-19th century, become fashionable and widespread, and such was the demand for it that large containers or "snuff mulls", were invented to stand on the table or sideboard to serve all. The word "mull" was derived from the Scotts dialect word for "mill", the snuff having been ground in a mill to a powder much as pepper is today. The ram horn is mounted in silver with various accoutrements, including a gavel, spike, rake, spoon and paw. These objects are suspended by silver chains attached to the horn. The Lawnmarket is one of Edinburgh's most famous streets, continuing the Royal Mile from West Bow to St Giles' Cathedral. Its name derived from the "land market" and "lawn merchants" that took over the street, where a busy concentration of traders would sell their produce. As a mark of the street's importance, the community formed a thriving association in 1468, which became known as the Lawnmarket Club. It features the inscription: "This horn was presented to the club by Thomas Sawers Jr. Esq Lord Provost, June 1851." As Lord Provost, Sawers would have also held the title of Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, and would have been one of the most prominent public figures of his day.



**DIMENSIONS (CM)**

50 x 37 x 14.5

**YEAR**

1960's

**ITEM CODE**

10363