Tobacco box, Netherlands, 18th century

This tobacco box is superbly engraved with scenes intended to stimulate conversation. The compartments depict a woman committing adultery in view of her husband inscribed: 'How can a young woman bully an old man Another makes the baby and I like a mother rock the cradle?'; a loveless marriage inscribed: 'I have an old husband who gives me no pleasure, but Venus manages the business so that I have no reason to complain'; and a false bottom which shows a happy family with the inscription: 'One finds nothing so sweet in fidelity as love between a man and a wife'.

Engraved on the lid: Aeneas Rescuing Anchises from burning Troy; on the inside of the lid , a scene of adultery, and an inscription which translates, How can a young woman bully an old man? Another makes the baby, and I like a mother must rock the cradle . The box has a secret lid engraved with a domestic scene and: I have an old husband who gives me no pleasure, but Venus manages the business so that I have no reason to complain , on one side; on the other a woman hitting a man with her chatelaine, and the inscription, O miserable marriage, would that you had never taken place .

The base has a false bottom, and the two scenes show a happy family, with the inscription, one finds nothing so sweet in fidelity as love between man and wife , and a warrior pursuing a woman with children, with the inscription, where man despises true love there is a land that stands in evil . The underside is engraved with Alexander visiting Diogenes.