A beautiful, baroque snuffbox for narcotic tobacco, decorated with mother-of-pearl.

Material made of shell limestone with a brass coating, gilded. Rectangular body with six embossed and sculpturally executed inlays made of mother-of-pearl, surrounded by narrow, partially profiled leaf patterns and wave bands in a "checkered" border. On the flat wall are ancient images in the antique style, made of mother-of-pearl and precious stones of various colors and shapes, referring to the four elements: water, air, earth, and fire. On the flat hinged lid is depicted a forest landscape with two putti in the center, and a rising dragon. To the left of it is an oval medallion-relief with the bust of Caesar, resting against a column. On the right is a lake with a boat fishing. On the lower part are remnants of an architectural mountain landscape. The side parts are decorated with trophy bundles of musical instruments, shells, snails and corals, as well as a fruit basket and two cannons with a powder drum ornament. The inner lid bears the former inscription "Collection R.S.P. 760". There are defects. Height 3.5 cm. 7.8 cm x 5.5 cm. Compare with Le Corbeiller, Alte Tabakdosen aus Europa und Amerika, fig. 419 (form and technique). Provenance: former collection of Professor Richard Steyskal-Paur, Vienna. Beautiful German Baroque gilded brass casket with precious stones and mother-of-pearl. Mid-18th century.