Tobacco box
Not on view
The box is oblong with rounded ends. On the lid Charlemagne is depicted, conversing with a monk and surrounded by children against an architectural background. Scrolls and trelliswork decoration flank the scene. Inscribed at the upper right side of the scene, on a mock signboard is: APC. Inscribed at the left end is: Karel de Groote (Charlemagne) and at the right side: In den jare 1746 (In the year 1746).
On the underside, within a wavy-line border, is the inscription: De groote keizer van wiens werk de vrucht blijft leven,/Die veel voor’t heil sijns volks, veel voor beschaving deed, / Zag voor sijn helden staal niet slechts de vijand beven/Neen 't onderwijs dat hij der teedre jeugd deed geven / Was 't wapen waar hij steeds de domheid mee bestreed (The great emperor, the fruit of whose work still lives,/Who did much for the welfare of his nation, and much for civilization/Saw the enemy tremble not only for his herds steel/No, the education that he provided for tender youth/Was the weapon with which he always fought stupidity.) Charles the Great (742?- 814), who was emperor of the West and king of the Franks, built a residence, De Valkhof, in Nijmegen in 777. Some remains of it still exist.
The front side of the box has leaf scrolls and the back side shows a leaf composition. This is the only box in the collection with chased decoration.
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