SOLD At a Distance, Near at Hand, Double-sided 18th Century Dutch Engraved Brass Tobacco Box cartoon ball a lovely set

a lovely set

carving and making music

looking as if aimed at a cat holding a shield with little bird flying overhead (methinks this boy had a nasty family cat

See details for full documentation of condition--there is one obvious area of loss and one tiny split along the lip on the opposite side

SOLD At a Distance, Near at Hand, Double-sided 18th Century Dutch Engraved Brass Tobacco Box cartoon ball a lovely setThe is an antique Dutch tobacco box, 18th century, hand engraved on both sides. There is a rich history of these, which in this period commonly portrayed romantic scenes or morality lessons of sorts. I've gone back and forth here, especially as I've found the text a challenge to translate. At first I read it as portraying two scenes of progressive romantic familiarity, in a sort of "inch by inch" way, first reaching for, and then ultimately snuggling