Snuffbox with merchant ship decoration.

Passively curved, bombarded, and profiled body with a light masonry domed lid. On the surrounding wall—a fantastic river landscape with a majestic castle complex. The floor features a corresponding view of the castle and a ship. On the lid, a reserve surrounded by golden vines. Inside—a view of a harbor with impressive city fortifications, arriving and departing boats, as well as merchants in conversation. The inner lid depicts a Venetian promenade embankment, merchants in front of arriving sailing ships, and a large palazzo. Based on a copper engraving by Melchior Küsel after Johann Wilhelm Baur. Fine polychrome painting. Gilt copper base, damaged. Height 3.6 cm, 5.9 cm x 5.4 cm. Porcelain snuffbox with scenes of merchants, partially showing the Venetian harbor of the city after an engraving by M. Küsel. Restored. German. Probably Meissen. Second half of the 18th century.