Thumb-Piece (Snuff Box)

The thumb-piece is the wedge-like part of a lid usually found on silverware such as Georgian Snuff Boxes. The thumb-piece's function is to allow the user to open the lid with further ease as some boxes/lids can be very tight fitting and difficult to open especially when the metal is well polished.

Thumb-piece designs can feature different shapes and sizes - however, the most common designs are usually floral/acanthus motif chased designs.

 

This silver-gilt snuff box features an acanthus motif thumb-piece.

The Georgian snuff box below features a floral design thumb-piece.