Large Convict's Snuffbox Made Of Rosewood And Corozo, Early 19th Century

A rare and remarkable rectangular snuffbox from the early 19th-century Empire period, entirely carved in high relief from a piece of corozo wood.
This meticulous work is a valuable testament to the craftsmanship of convicts and to French folk art from the Napoleonic or Restoration periods.

The snuffbox features a hunting scene.

Front: “The Fight / The Hunt”: A lively scene depicting hunters armed with pikes and spears subduing game on the ground, framed by horsemen and stylized vegetation.

Reverse: “The Departure”: A scene depicting the departure for a hunt or seasonal migration, featuring a horseman on the move, figures in period costumes, and livestock or draft animals.

Both sides are adorned with an eagle with outstretched wings in high relief carved from corozo (a highly prized symbolic motif during the First Empire), surrounded by borders decorated with foliage and flowers.

The piece has a beautiful patina from use,