TOBACCO BOX, PRAGUE, 1837 – SYMBOLS?

[AG2012]

Tobacco box, embossed, gilt interior, loth ``13``, letter ``B`` for Prague (not to be confused with Linz after 1867).
The symbolism in embossed lid is very interesting;
Left side: chained Pegasus liberated, lyre, grape barrel?
Right: thermometer, plane (tool), wand? laurel wreath, crown thrown to the snakes
Who is in the middle with laurel wreath?
This cannot be Masonic; has it something to do with revolutions in Habsburg Empire which took place a decade later in 1848?

[historydetective]

Julius Caesar with common Roman motifs.

[AG2012]

Thanks for Julius Caesar;still,barometer does not fit in Roman motifs,neither the crown among the snakes.

[historydetective]

Instead of a barometer, I see something like a slide rule, and I wonder if it has something to do with the Caesar Cipher, an encryption techinique Caesar used to outwit his enemies. I see a crown and scepter (or snake-topped caduceus) , or the 3 snakes may be a reference to the mode of death chosen by Cleopatra, with whom Caesar was involved romantically and politcally and militarily. I'm sure there are better interpretations; I just think this particular category is not heavily patronized.

[Joerg]

My interpretation is the following:

We have here a bust of Francis I (II), Austrian Emperor. Born 1768, Roman emperor Francis II 1792-1806, as Austrian Emperor Francis I 1806 - 1835, died 1835.
See here a portrait:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Francesco_I.jpg

The box honours the late emperor in a classical style, with laurel and item attributed to him. This was fairly common during this period, Biedermeier. Famous examples of such placing a late ruler in a classical panthenon are the reliefs placed around Napoleon I grave in Paris.
The items left and right are things attributed to the emperor. I tend towards symbols of Freemasonry. Francis I was member.
We should also not forget that during this time censorship was rigid. So we no not expect to find any critsism on the Austrian Empire on an offically hallmarked item. All symbols must be politically correct. Symbols from Freemasonry are accepted.
Maybe other members can interpret some items, I have no clue about the Pegasus. But I think the snake represents Napolen (not France, just the person), beaten by the Austrian Empire.

Regards

Jörg

[Joerg]

Hoovering a little further: Pegasus represents the source of wisdom, a very positive attribute to a emperor. Pegasus was ridden by Bellerophon, a greek heron, who fought the Chimera. The Chimera is a mystical animal with a snake as a tail.
We could interpret that the Pegasus correlates Francis with Bellerophon. The Chimera (-snake tail) is Napoleon. Napoleon surrendered 1815 to the British ship of the line "Bellerophon". A nice coincident. Bellerophon fell later from Pegasus and lost eyesight and became crippled. So a subtile interpretation could be:
Francis beat the beast (Napoleon) with the help of others (the allies), later in his life he became a very conservative and repressiv ruler. (crippeld and blind)

Just an idea

Regards

Jörg

[AG2012]

Makes sense 100%; yes, Biedermeier period.Thanks and thanks!