A GEORGE III SILVER SNUFF BOX by Thomas Pemberton, Birmingham 1797, rectangular, the hinged cover with a floral and foliate border and conforming thumbpiece. 6.5cm long, 1.7 troy ounces The marks are clear. The hinge is in good order. There are a couple of tiny splits in the corners of the cover. There is no personalised engraving.

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.