Tobacco box
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Brass
Dimensions
1 7/16 x 5 1/2 x 3 in. (3.7 x 14.0 x 7.6 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Brass
Culture
Dutch
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of C. Gustave Mourraille, in memory of his sister, Miss M. Mathilde Mourraille, 1957
Accession Number
57.108.9
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant 18th-century Dutch box, crafted from brass, exemplifies the exquisite metalwork of the European decorative arts tradition. Measuring a compact 1 7/16 x 5 1/2 x 3 inches, it served as a portable container for snuff tobacco—a luxury popularized in the Netherlands following the commodity's introduction from the Americas. The box's surface likely features engraved or chased scenes depicting men and women, reflecting everyday social life or genre motifs common in Dutch craftsmanship of the period. Brass, valued for its durability, malleability, and warm golden hue, was a favored mediu...