Snuff mull of ram's horn, a gift from Robert Burns to John Cunningham

This simple snuff mull is made from a single, curled ram's horn.  The silver lid is set with a polished agate pebble.  This was a gift from Robert Burns to John Cunningham, later the 14th Earl of Glencairn.  It bears a small silver plaque which is inscribed, "Presented to John Cunningham, as a token of esteem by Robert Burns, Oct 2 1790".  Given Burns' financial situation at that time this would have been an expensive gift.   John Cunningham was the younger brother of James Cunningham, the 13th Earl of Glencairn who was Burns'  friend and patron and after whom he named his fourth son, James Glencairn Burns.