The rhythmic composition of the chased scene on this large snuffbox is the work of one of London’s most skilled goldsmiths, George Michael Moser. Moser had a prominent place in the diverse artistic community of the mid-1700s and was one of the founders of the Royal Academy. The scene on the box depicts the Roman hero Mucius Scaevola, who demonstrated his bravery to his captors by holding his hand in a blazing fire. The circumstances of its commission are unknown.