Tobacco box
The lid of this oval box depicts a hefty Neptune with a trident, reclining against an urn. Inscribed below: Dee Zee Godt (The Sea God).
The underside shows a scene with a sailing vessel, a walking man, and a tortoise. Inscribed below: All tini [?] Although the inscription's meaning is unclear, the scene perhaps relates to an emblem in Jacob Cats's Silenus Alcibiadis Sive Proteus of 1622, in which a turtle is depicted against a similar background with sailing vessel (see Figure 13). The motto published with the emblem, "Fugiendo non effugit," means that wherever one goes his burden accompanies him. (This, of course, is particularly true of the turtle.)
With lined and corded rims, molded edges. The borders and sides are decorated with chevron ornament.
The underside shows a scene with a sailing vessel, a walking man, and a tortoise. Inscribed below: All tini [?] Although the inscription's meaning is unclear, the scene perhaps relates to an emblem in Jacob Cats's Silenus Alcibiadis Sive Proteus of 1622, in which a turtle is depicted against a similar background with sailing vessel (see Figure 13). The motto published with the emblem, "Fugiendo non effugit," means that wherever one goes his burden accompanies him. (This, of course, is particularly true of the turtle.)
With lined and corded rims, molded edges. The borders and sides are decorated with chevron ornament.
Artwork Details
- Title: Tobacco box
- Date: 18th century
- Culture: Dutch
- Medium: Brass
- Dimensions: 4 3/8 x 3 1/4 in. (11.1 x 8.3 cm)
- Classification: Metalwork-Brass
- Credit Line: Gift of Joseph W. Drexel, 1889
- Object Number: 89.2.22
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
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Johann Heinrich Giese
ca. 1760–65
Dutch
18th century
Dutch
18th century
probably Netherlandish
early 17th century
Jan Jansen Bockeltz
ca. 1605–10
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