A mid eighteenth century Dutch brass tobacco box beautifully engraved to the lid and the base with a rhyme in a rubus puzzle. Enclosed within is note 'For Mr. Tate Junr.' explaining the rhyme to the lid as ‘The Mill Must Grind, The Sun Must Set, The Bird Must Roost, But The World Must Mooove’. ‘We can make no sense of the other side’. Dated Feb. 24th 1909.
The base engraved with a barrel, fleeting time and a ladder to heaven. The world, the town name of Meyden, perhaps a lump of bread dough, a door, the world and a full porringer, followed by a violin and the town name of Leyden.
5 ins x 2.35 ins x 1 ins
Item Code: 5335
£ 580
Enquire about this item