George VI Snuff Box

The George VI Snuff Box was presented to the Company in 2001 by Alan Victor Kinsey, Master 1991-92. The snuff box is a silver mounted cowrie sea shell engraved with the Upholders’ Arms over a scroll inscribed “Upholsterers (sic) Arms”. It is also engraved “Gift of John Bilton to Francis Ellis, 5th November 1822”. It was made by Thomas Watson of Newcastle upon Tyne in around 1820. This gives us an indication of the box’s origins. Among the City of Newcastle’s guilds (known as incorporated companies) are the Upholsterers, whose origins can be traced back to at least 1675 when they received their royal charter. Today, they are linked with Tin Plate Workers and Stationers in a single company (the “Upholsterers”) and are one of 29 active companies in Newcastle.