An unusual gold double-opening snuff box, probably German, mid-eighteenth century

of upright tapering form, the cartouche-shaped lid chased in high relief with Mercury to the right, his arm extended towards a putto peeking from behind a scroll, the hatched lozenge-patterned ground overlaid with chased gold cornucopiae and scrolls, scrollwork thumbpiece, the sides and hinged base similarly decorated in fluted compartments, the interior of the lid set with a miniature on parchment painted with elegant figure on a quay side, in a fitted shagreen case

5.6 cm, 2 1/8 in. high