A Dutch Delft blue and white tobacco box and cover with tamper, dated 1763

H.: 15 cm - Dia.: 14 cm 

The cover inscribed "GERARDUS PETTINGA 1763". Gerardus Pettinga was a surgeon in the Frisian city of Leeuwarden from 1759 until his death in 1794. He married Tetje Gerbens Hoornstra on the 10th of April 1763, the same year as written on the lid.
The design on the box also refers to the activities of a surgeon. On both lid and box, one can see the surgeon perform bleedings, holding a bleeding bowl. The middle scene represents the surgeon removing a patient's shoe, and subsequently inspecting or treating the foot on the box itself.
Since Pettinga worked in the Duco Martena hospital in 1762 and 1763, this box may be related to his parting.
More info:
- Gerardus Pettinga is listed in the Register of surgeons in the Dutch province of Friesland before 1811

The tamper was used to keep the tobacco fresh, instead of having it dry out when fully exposed to air.

Marked on the base "AK" above a star, for Albertus Kiell, the "De Witte Ster" workshop, Delft, 1762-1774.

Condition:
- The lid and tamper in good condition.
- The box with two professionally restored breaks, nearly invisible to the naked eye but somewhat visible under a magnifier.