Tobacco box

Unknown

18th century · Brass · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

The lid of this oval box depicts a hefty Neptune with a trident, reclining against an urn. Inscribed below: Dee Zee Godt (The Sea God). The underside shows a scene with a sailing vessel, a walking man, and a tortoise. Inscribed below: All tini [?] Although the inscription's meaning is unclear, the scene perhaps relates to an emblem in Jacob Cats's Silenus Alcibiadis Sive Proteus of 1622, in which a turtle is depicted against a similar background with sailing vessel (see Figure 13). The motto published with the emblem, "Fugiendo non effugit," means that wherever one goes his burden accompanies him. (This, of course, is particularly true of the turtle.) With lined and corded rims, molded edges. The borders and sides are decorated with chevron ornament.

Artist

Unknown

Date

18th century

Medium

Brass

Culture

Dutch

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Joseph W. Drexel, 1889