Tobacco box

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

An oblong box with rounded ends. On the lid is a panel with shaped sides in which are depicted two scenes from the Passion of Christ. At the left Christ bears the cross, flanked by Simon of Cyrene and Veronica holding the veil. At the right is the crucified Christ; John and Mary kneel at the foot of the cross. The panel is flanked by leaf scrolls and two roundels which are inscribed: Kristus die dragt nu het kruijs / en hangt an het kruijs (Christ who carries the cross/ and hangs on the cross). On the underside a similar panel displays two other episodes from the Gospels. To the left the Resurrection is pictured. The figure of Christ, encircled by a mandorla, is flanked by an angel and a sleeping soldier. Christ's appearance to Mary Magdalen in the garden (Noli me tangere) is shown on the right side. The roundels are inscribed: De opstandige kristus/ vertont hem in den hoof (The resurrected Christ/ appears in the garden). Rims are lined and edges molded. The front side shows line decoration and the following inscription: Nout vool makt (Not perfect). The back side and the ends also have line decoration.

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The fifty thousand objects in the Museum's comprehensive and historically important collection of European sculpture and decorative arts reflect the development of a number of art forms in Western European countries from the early fifteenth through the early twentieth century. The holdings include sculpture in many sizes and media, woodwork and furniture, ceramics and glass, metalwork and jewelry, horological and mathematical instruments, and tapestries and textiles. Ceramics made in Asia for export to European markets and sculpture and decorative arts produced in Latin America during this period are also included among these works.

Metropolitan Museum of Art