This brass box is similar to, but rather larger than most Dutch tobacco boxes.
The writing on the box is fairly standard Dutch and it probably dates from the last quarter of the 17th century (1671-1702). It is impossible to read the uncleaned lid of the box, but on the lower and cleaner side there is a tree which probably represents the House of Orange since the label above it reads "Vivat de Prins van Orange" - (Long live the Prince of Orange). At the end of the second line to the left of this motto is what looks like the date 1671. Among the inscription on the front of the box the following words appear: "Holland .....", "The Prince William....." and possibly the numeral III.
It would probably be possible for someone speaking modern Dutch to decipher most of the inscription.
The date and the fact that three men seem to be busy trying to chop down the orange tree with a soldier on horseback rushing to the rescue, may connect the box with the invasion of Holland by Louis XIV of France in 1672 (if this occured between Jan - March 25 contemporary accounts would give the date as 1671 since the year started on Lady Day until the mid-18th century. |
