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| Ram's Horn Snuff Mull, 1826 |
This ram's horn snuff mull features sterling silver mounts made by Fredericton silversmith Benjamin Wolhaupter in 1826. It was first used during the Society’s inaugural Feast of Saint Andrew on November 30 1826, which took place at Miller’s Hotel on Queen Street (present-day 526 Queen). Engraved on a silver cartouche are the words: "Fredericton Society of St Andrew Founded 30 Nov 1825."
This mull includes four original silver tools (also made by Benjamin Wolhaupter) attached by silver chains: snuff hammer, perforated snuff spoon, snuff rake, and four-toed rabbit's foot.
The word “snuff” is derived from the Gaelic term “smuiden” meaning dust. The act of snuffing was originally referred to as “smeeshin” and was believed to “mightily refresh the brain.” Tobacco was ground down to a fine powder, and then snorted instead of smoked. It is believed that this preference for powder over a lit pipe was probably due to Scotland’s moist climate, since keeping a pipe lit in such a rainy climate would be quite difficult.
Mulls were used for keeping snuff power fresh and dry. Smaller (pocket-sized) mulls were made from a variety of materials, including wood, silver, porcelain and sheep’s horns. By the 18th century snuff had become the luxury tobacco of choice for noblemen and women across all of Great Britain and Europe.
Larger mulls like this were intended for ceremonial use at group gatherings, and became particularly popular within the British military and aristocratic circles. The mull horn would be passed after dinner, as a symbol of comradery. There were also social rules of etiquette that required knowledge in the use of the accompanying tools:
- First the user tapped the side of the mull with the attached ivory hammer;
- Then with their right hand, they used the accompanying spoon to scoop out a small pinch of snuff, placing the tobacco on the side of their left hand.
- Next, using the snuff rake, the user arranged the tobacco on their hand for easy action and sniffed an amount into one nostril.
- As a final step, the user would wipe away any remaining snuff on their nose, moustache, or beard, using the attached rabbit’s foot.