Saxony's abundance of colorful hardstones provided inspiration for the lapidaries of Dresden who carved boxes in a multiplicity of shapes such as animals, baskets, trunks, chests, shoes, vases fruits, nuts and jars as in this instance.
The Hermitage Museum holds one of the most impressive group of similar Dresden boxes including one very comparable to this lot also figuring on the cover a rococo landscape (see K. Snowman, Eighteenth century gold boxes of Europe, 1966, No 511- bottom).
The choice of the bear, butterfly and dog applied inside the box creates a powerful narrative of strength, transformation and loyalty.