Tobacco box

Unknown

1781 · Brass, copper · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

This box is oblong with rounded ends. The lid has openwork decoration in brass against a copper ground. A harlequin and two smaller musicians in the background are surrounded by pierced scroll and fretwork decoration. The underside shows a dancing woman surrounded by the same pierced scroll and fretwork ornament. Inscribed on front edge of cover, I. W. B.; dated 1781 on front side, among leaf scrolls. The initials and date were probably added at a later time. With lined rims. The brass sides are engraved with leaf scrolls, the decoration of the rounded ends consists of small squares. Two openwork tobacco boxes were sold at Christie’s in Amsterdam: on May 24, 1985, lot 368, and on September 12-13, 1985, lot 352.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1781

Medium

Brass, copper

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