AN EARLY VICTORIAN SILVER TABLE SNUFF BOX by John Howes, London 1842, rectangular with inverted bowed ends and cusped corners, engraved all over with scrolls, foliage and diaper panels, the front further engraved with a brace of hounds, the hinged lid centred by engraved arms. 10cm long, 5.2 troy ounces The marks are crisp and clear. The hinge is in good order, and the lid closes well. The gilded interior is good. In generally good condition.

Composed of several subsidiaries, the Drouot Group is a major player in the art market. Hôtel Drouot, located in the heart of Paris, has been the world's largest public auction center since 1852. 15 salerooms are available to more than 70 auction houses. The emulation generated by an annual offer of 230,000 artworks from 21 major specialities - from Antiquity to street art - attracts some 3,000 visitors every day. The Group's digital platform, Drouot.com, offers digital sales - Live auctions (live broadcasting and participation in auctions), Online-only auctions (dematerialised auctions) and Buy Now sales (sales of lots at fixed prices). Nearly 2 million items are offered annually by 600 auction houses. Auction news is reported every week in La Gazette Drouot, the leading weekly magazine for the art market and culture published by Auctionspress.