19th Century Tole Snuff Box/Vesta Shoe, Hand Engraved with Best Red Soles! persistent faces It looks to me that

It looks to me that the portrait was carved separately and then mounted to the panel on which it sits

with a glued repair to an old split there

text in German

I have to think the business at hand here was one of transport--and would guess most likely this was meeting hall for the Transit Workers Union

Born at Irvington-on-Hudson

19th Century Tole Snuff Box/Vesta Shoe, Hand Engraved with Best Red Soles! persistent faces It looks to me that(First photo is a composite, showing two views.) The best tole (painted tin) snuff box (or perhaps vesta) shoe I have ever seen, truly. I was sold on it from the top view, between the cream paint and wonderful hand engraved decoration, but then I saw the bright red painted underside and that was it. The Louboutin of shoe shaped boxes (but much more practical!) Also makes me think of Dorothy in her ruby red slippers. Fabulous, and a perfect valentine,