Tobacco box

Art Historical Context

Step into the world of 18th-century craftsmanship with this exquisite tobacco box by Johann Heinrich Giese, crafted in the third quarter of the century (circa 1760–1770). Hailing from Iserlohn, a center of metalworking in Westphalia, compact brass and copper piece measures just 6 × 1⅞ × 1¼ inches, making it a perfect pocket companion for the era's gentlemen. Now housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's European Sculpture andative Arts collection, it exemplifies the fine metalwork that put Iserlohn on the map as Europe's "brass capital." Tobacco boxes like this one surged in popularity as snuff-taking became a fashionable social ritual across Europe, blending utility with artistry. Iserlohn artisans, including Giese, specialized in lightweight, durable brassware adorned with intricate engravings or embossings—here likely featuring urban scenes, as suggested by its "Cities" motif. The combination of brass for its warm glow and copper accents highlights skilled chasing and piercing techniques, transforming everyday objects into status symbols for the emerging middle class. This gift to the Met from Mrs. Maxime L. Hermanos in 1986 preserves a slice of Enlightenment-era leisure and industrial prowess, reminding us how decorative arts bridged functionality and fine design in Georgian Germany.

About the Artist

Johann Heinrich Giese · 1716–1761

**Johann Heinrich Giese (1716–1761)** was a skilled German engraver and metalworker based in Iserlohn, a town renowned for its brass and copper production in the 18th century. Specializing in decorative tobacco and snuff boxes, Giese became one of the leading figures in this craft during the mid-1700s. His work combined practical utility with intricate stamped designs, often commemorating historic...