Such boxes, tins and candies for tea, playing cards and tokens or other personal treasures decorated with artistic lacquer painting were popular souvenirs for the well-heeled spa guests of the city of Spa, whose medicinal water springs attracted numerous famous and crowned visitors from all over Europe in the 18th century.
The outside of the curly lidded box is completely painted using an elaborate lacquer technique. The scenery, executed in grisaille with colored accents, shows a couple of courtly lovers in an arcadian landscape in the manner of François Boucher. The painting is in very well condition.
Height 8 cm, width 23 cm, depth 16 cm.
Huth, “Lacquer of the West: History of a Craft and an Industry”, Chicago 1971, p. 307ff.