Snuff box decorated with ballooning scene, late 18th century.

This snuff box is taken from the Penn-Gaskell collection of 'ballooniana'. Public balloon ascents began to be held in pleasure gardens after the first succesful balloon trips in Paris, France, during 1783. These events attracted huge crowds and led to an explosion of ballooniana, or balloon art, expresed in paintings, prints and decorated ceramics as well as many other forms.