Extremely rare and in excellent quality silver snuff box made by Norbert Heylbrouck sr. Ghent and engraver, silversmith Joannes van Erven with maker's mark: lion going to the left. Snuff box dated 1732-1749. Length 10 cm, width 7.5 cm, height 1.7 cm. Mythological images from Métamorphose d’Ovide and Rondeux 1676 by Isaac de Bensérade:"Apollo tending the sheep and cows of Admetus"; and "Pandora's Box"This silver snuff box is depicted and described in detail in Ghendtsche Tydingen - Magazine of the Local History and History Circle Ghent - January / February 2016More than coincidentally, the significance of the mythological depictions used seems to be related to the two dramatic highlights in Heylbrouck's life. (sentenced to death and pardoned by the Archduchess Maria-Elisabeth of Austria 1680-1741). It should come as no surprise if Heylbrouck dedicated or even donated this snuff box to her in gratitude before her death in 1741.Provenance: Collection Claeys / Szprycer Ghent; Private collection Belgium 1977; Private collection Netherlands 1986; Private collection Netherlands 2006.