I found a French version of this same early snuff box a year or two ago-- late 18th or very early 19th century, I believe--so I jumped on this German version when I came across it (and as my French is much better than my non-existent German, I was glad to already know the satirical humor embedded in it!) The text at bottom translates to “the burden of the husband or the burden of the household”—meaning, essentially, what a lot of demands this fellow carries on his back, with his wife, with two fingers raised behind his head, foremost among them! With a series of demands surrounding his head, including reminders to pay the jeweler, the shoe maker, the lingerie maker, etc…. Essentially a “honey do” joke a la 1800!

3 1/8" in diameter. Some cracking to the lacquer all as documented and some of the text a bit hard to read, but image and color very strong, and no losses.