C1700, late 17th or early 18th century engraved Dutch brass tobacco box. Both sides are lavishly engraved with a picture within a heart shaped reserve set between square frames passages of text. This is a beautifully wrought and decorative box from the glory days of the Dutch Repubilc. The zenith of the Dutch olden Age was about 20-30 years before this box was made, which is well before the Dutch declined from  being a wealthy and influential world power.

13 cm wide,  4 cm tall 7.5 cm deep.