Nagging Wife, Burdened Husband, Early German Lacquered Papier Mache Snuff Box antique odd fellows tag The four sides and bottom

The four sides and bottom are joined by nails at the corners

Admittedly there are plenty of condition issues with this piece----the examples I've seen in very good condition have sold for $1K and up--but I think still pretty fantastic

It's the work of Russian artist Chaloi Leonty

Antelope and Cantelope

from the hand-carved row of pillars holding up the front porch

Nagging Wife, Burdened Husband, Early German Lacquered Papier Mache Snuff Box antique odd fellows tag The four sides and bottomI 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 householdmeaning, essentially, what a lot of demands this fellow carries