Snuffbox. Carved Wood, Metal. Northern European School, 18th Century.

Snuffbox. Carved wood, metal. Northern European school, 18th century.
Some minor imperfections.
Small carved wood box with two hinged lids (one on each side). It is decorated with a series of figurative reliefs on religious themes. On one side, two male figures frame an altar adorned with candles, on which rests a cross surrounded by a halo of glory; the lid is adorned with a winged angel's head. The other side depicts a heart surmounted by a three-lobed element surrounded by what appears to be a crown of thorns and flanked by two elements extending into the interior of the box. Inside the box is a crucifixion scene, with Jesus at the top, flanked by the two thieves, and elements of the Passion occupying the rest of the space (the cock of denial, the nails, the tongs, the spear, a ladder, Veronica's veil, etc.). The wood is probably boxwood. As for the decoration and morphology of the piece, there are clear similarities with 18th-century works from Northern Europe, particularly those of the Flemish school. A very similar snuffbox (in terms of shape and decoration) is known to exist in a private collection, considered to be a Dutch work dating from around 1700. -
Dimensions: 7.3 x 8.7 x 3 cm