Tobacco box

Unknown

18th century · Brass · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Oval box; its lid shows a landscape scene with two men shaking hands; one of them is reclining. At the left the personification of fortune can be seen, standing on a globe and holding a billowing sail. Inscribed below: Soo lang t' fortuijn u dient sal u geen vrint onbreken (As long as fortune is with you, you won't lack friends). The underside carries another outdoor scene. A distressed-looking man, his head in his hand, is seated next to a tree. His friend and the figure of fortune are shown leaving him. Inscribed below: Maar als t' fortuijn eens keert dan is u vrint geweken (But when fortune turns around your friend will be gone). With lined rims, molded edges, and plain sides. A tobacco box with the same inscription but with slightly different illustrations is in the collection of Het Nederlands Openluchtmuseum, Arnhem. A similar text was used as a porch inscription in Gronichem (Gorinchem); see Hieronymus Sweerts, Koddige en ernstige opschriften op luyffins, wagens, glazrn, uythangborden, en andere taferelen (Amsterdam, 1682-90) II, p. 113.

Artist

Unknown

Date

18th century

Medium

Brass

Culture

Dutch

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of C. Gustave Mourraille, in memory of his sister, Miss M. Mathilde Mourraille, 1957