Stobwasser Manufacture Papier-mâché Snuffbox, Germany Early 18th Century

A papier-mâché snuffbox painted with a depiction of the myth of Arethusa and Alpheus. According to the myth, Arethusa was one of Artemis’s nymphs.  One day, after a hunting expedition with the goddess, she felt the urge to cool off in the Alpheus River, which flowed through Olympia. There she was seen by the river god Alpheus, who fell in love with her and pursued her to possess her.  Arethusa asked Artemis to save her and  Artemis transformed her into a spring and having sanked her  into the ground guided her through underground passages until she reemerged on the island of Ortigia in Syracuse, Sicily.  Alpheus then transformed himself into a river and crossed the sea to Ortigia so that he could mix his waters with hers. The myth  symbolizes how Greece was united with Sicily.  The snuffbox bears an inscription in German on the inside describing the painted subject "Arethusa flieht vor den Flussgott Alpheus"  On the bottom of the snuffbox, the initials “St” for Stobwasser, the famous German manufacturer, are faintly visible. In excellent condition. Germany, early 19th century