Tobacco box

Unknown

18th century · Brass · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

An oblong box with rounded ends. On the lid, surrounded by leaf scrolls, are four medallions depicting, from left to right, three women and a male figure who personify Faith, with a cross; Hope, with an anchor; Charity, surrounded by children; and Fortune with billowing sail. Inscribed in the center is: Ik hoop door het geeloof en lifde kragtig het vertuijn dat koomt van godt almagtig/Daar (I hope [to receive] strengthened through faith and love the fortune that comes from God almighty./ Where ... [the inscription continues on the reverse side]). The underside similar in design to the lid, shows from left to right the female personifications of Abundance, with a cornucopia; Prudence, with a mirror; Justice, blindfolded with a sword and balance; and Temperance pouring liquid from one vessel to another. The inscription reads: [Daar] Vreede is woont godt hebt vreede in u gemoet gij wort uijt heeren schoot gesegint met veel goet ([Where] is peace is God's dwelling place. Have peace in your heart; you are blessed with many good things from the Lord's hands). Justice, prudence, and temperance are three of the four cardinal virtues; faith, hope, and charity are the three theological virtues. The rims are corded; the sides are plain. A similar box is in the collection of Het Nederlands Openluchtmuseum, Arnhem. Boxes carrying the same text are mentioned in Brongers, Nicotiana Tabacum, p. 53) and also in Van der Linden, " Les boîtes en cuivres," p. 205.

Artist

Unknown

Date

18th century

Medium

Brass

Culture

Dutch

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Bequest of Flora E. Whiting, 1971