Tobacco box

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The box is a long octagon. The lid is engraved with a view of a city, and inscribed: s hertogenbos. The tower of St. Jan's church, probably the most characteristic feature of the 's Hertogenbosch skyline, is not recognizable. This may indicate that an idealized city view is rendered here, to which the name of any town could be added. The underside shows an empty cartouche which appears to be suspended from the top of the box and is surrounded by leaf scrolls and branches. The cartouche was probably meant to hold the coat of arms of 's Hertogenbosch (similar to the reverse side of Number IV, 3)· Two sunbursts are depicted at the sides. With lined rims and molded edges. On the front side is engraved a vase of flowers from which branches extend. A similar box is in the collection of Het Nederlands Openluchtmuseurn in Arnhem.

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