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| Tobacco Box German, c. 1880 The Victoria & Albert Museum |
It makes sense that Punch would adorn a tobacco box. Many smoking-related items featured Mr. Punch. What I find rather queer is the fact that the lid of this German porcelain and enamel tobacco box depicts a child in a pram. I don’t tend to associate children with smoking or tobacco in general. But, maybe that’s just me. Nevertheless, the little girl is a continuation of the theme of cherubic little ladies holding figures of Mr. Punch—symbols of both the angelic and the impish.
This box was made in Pössneck, Germany, ca. 1880 by the manufacturers of Conta and Boehme. You may recognize that name as the makers of a good many of the Victorian Fairings at which we've looked. It's entirely possible that this little trinket was a fairgrounds prize, too.
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