Box from the first quarter of the 19th century with 17th century one-sided hollow cast medal. Deceased lying on an altar, supported by two skeletons, in between a crouch with engraving: "Saligh sijn de dood en die / in den Heere Sterven van nu aen: / Ja seyt de Geest op dat sij rusten / moghen van haren arbeyt. / Apocalipsis c 14 v 13", two putti above, each blowing on a trumpet, holding a ribbon on which can be read: "Christus is u Leven, Sterven is u gewin."

Bottom of box engraved with floral ornaments within oval of geometric ornaments.

Guilded interior.

Dimensions: 71 x 65 x 24 mm

VERY RARE

These boxes, which originally came with a small scoop, were used at funerals by the catholic clergy. They came into use due the fact that in some cases the mortal remains could not be buried in consecrated ground. This could concern, for example, criminals, prostitutes or stillborn children out of wedlock. The priest would fill the box with some soil from the church cemetery and sprinkle it over the grave that lay outside the churchyard. A comfort for the bereaved, since the deceased would still rest in consecrated ground.