Puma and Bear, London

Description

This is an extraordinary and extremely rare box from Spa, Belgium. It is also often called Belgian Bois de Spa or Jolite de Spa Box.

On the lid and around the sides there are beautifully hand painted scenes. The gently domed lid depicts an enchanting encounter between a shepherd with a milkmaid, who is taking a break to dip her feet in the stream. For the 1700's this is quite a racy scene, with a woman showing her legs above the ankle! This gorgeous box was created around the mid 1700s in the town of Spa.

On the sides are classical landscape images of Belgian homes, farms and scenery creating a window into that long ago time. This is a wonderful piece of history created by craftspeople with extraordinary skill.

History of Spa Boxes:
Boxes made in the Belgian town of Spa are best-known for their unrivalled quality of decoration. These boxed often feature romantic paintings of local scenes, buildings and natural surroundings as well as flowers and animals. Spa boxes became highly sought-after souvenirs for visiting European aristocracy during the 18th and 19th centuries. As a result of the aristocratic patrons who frequented Spa for holidays, the town attracted the best painters from across the continent. These craftspeople found new levels of success in crafting Belgian Spa boxes in service of this affluent market.

Size:
21 cm wide
16 cm deep