This patch box was used to contain beauty spots – pieces of gummed taffeta which helped draw attention to the wearer’s complexion. They were popular but expensive love tokens. The Harris cares for several metal patch and snuff boxes with enamel decoration like this. The metalwork collection as a whole numbers 533 items ranging from commemorative trowels and inkstands and metalwork copies of ancient art works by Elkington’s which the Harris purchased in the early 1900s.