SOLD At a Distance, Near at Hand, Double-sided 18th Century Dutch Engraved Brass Tobacco Box group of portraits PA dealer as a great

PA dealer as a great mid 19th c

Which makes perfect sense

suspended in the niches of the wood frame

easily stabilized with a bit of archival tape--I'll send some along with it

The lacquer on the interior of the box is in very good shape

SOLD At a Distance, Near at Hand, Double-sided 18th Century Dutch Engraved Brass Tobacco Box group of portraits PA dealer as a greatThe 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