I saw this at my uncle's house when I visited in the spring. I was intrigued and asked him what he knew about it--not much, just that his mother, my maternal grandmother thought it came from her father's side of the family--the Klingensmiths. Her Pennsylvania grandfather had been in the Civil War, but it looked to me like it was even older than that, so I googled my way around and it turns out it's English enamelware, circa 1780-1810. This particular kind, as you can tell by the patriotic slogan, was made "for the American market" (by our old enemies, the Brits--kind of ironic). I thought it was a snuff box, but because it has a mirror inside it turns out it was a "Patch box," made for ladies to keep the fake little moles they applied as beauty marks in. Which seems too weird for my farmer-ish German immigrant ancestors--beauty patches? I think not. But I liked finding this little box (it's about 1.5 inches across, not very big!) and wondering who had it, where it's been...it looks like it's seen some wear, but you'd look a little beat up, too, after 200 plus years.
This site had some interesting examples of simliar pieces--everything from "humorous mottoes" to sneaky Regency era porn, but I like this funny little statement--we were so proud of ourselves! Anyway, I'm using it as my screensaver (had a picture of Hal's bowls, but needed a break). This way I can be reminded every day that I am VERY LUCKY to be free and wish all others could " be happy as we."
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