What is my little "Roosters Box" Snuff or......

Hi....I have some little goodies that I will break out now and then.....this one came from my Mom's collection.....she always called it a 'condom' box, but I'm just not sure after reading an article on Snuff boxes!!! A friend said the saying inside translated to "Think not evil thoughts" or thereabouts!!! What say you all????? And thank you for all of your immeasurable help!!!! Oh, the length beaks to tails is 3", front to back is 2 1/2", height to top of back of rooster is 2", to top of tail feathers is 2 3/8"!

 

I think it's a porcelain hinged trinket box.
here's a similar
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/301037556323550442/?from_navigate=true

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Limoges-Tri...908976?hash=item33ba7a4b70:g:q-wAAOSwKtVWuPox

 

this one came from my Mom's collection.....she always called it a 'condom' box, but I'm just not sure after reading an article on Snuff boxes!!!

Maybe given the position of the rooster & chicken is the reason she called it what she did.

Peggy

 

Peggy....I'm sure you are correct there!!!! This is supposed to be antique.....and I don't think they had what we call 'condoms' today!!!!!

 

Tyeldom3, I had done a LOT of looking some time ago and came up with NOTHING, so I was surprised to see your finds!!!!!! Thanks so much!!!!! Looking at the eyes in particular in the one/s you found, don't you think that one looks kind of new????

Both DO (what you found and mine) seem to be about the same size though!

 

The first condoms were as early as the 1600's made of animal intestines,rubber was available in the mid 1800's.

 

Ooooooh, animal intestines.......all I can say is yuck, yuck, yuck.....

 

Oooooooh!!!! Who Knew!!!!! Not me!!!! Thank you Hollyblue!!!! And I went back and added 'condom boxes' to my search of limoges roosters and got more hits....still haven't found one with the same eyes though!!!!

 

Yea, I see what you mean with the eyes. I'm finding more of them now...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chamart-vintage-Limoges-Box-Porcelain-Hand-Painted-Rooster-Hen-Mating-larger/262380205151?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIC.MBE&ao=1&asc=37183&meid=52ee

http://www.ebay.com/itm/French-Limoges-Chantilly-Porcelain-HP-Figural-Lg-Trinket-Box-Naughty-Rooster-Hen-/311478349189?hash=item48858e6d85:g:uUYAAOSwu-BWOQiC&nma=true&si=vdHwHqM4FJeCpsme2mEHzNoeetE%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

And NONE with that French saying in the bottom..................hmmmmmm.... it's a conundrummmmmmm

 

Apparently whoever painted the saying inside spelled the first word incorrectly. It should have only one "n" --

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honi_soit_qui_mal_y_pense

 

Well, thanks Fig, and is what we were told....that it generally says??? "Think not evil thoughts" ?????

 

Google tells me...

"Honi soit qui mal y pense is an Anglo-Norman maxim which rather means, "Shame on whosoever would think badly of it," or "May he be shamed who thinks badly of it". Its literal translation from Old French is "Shame be to him who thinks evil of it." It is sometimes re-interpreted as "Evil be to him that evil thinks." In contemporaneous French usage, it is usually used ironically, to insinuate the presence of hidden agendas."

So those fowl are actually just keeping each other warm... see?

 

Modern translation: get your mind out of the gutter.

...fat chance of that, these days, but....

 

I included the link to a Wikipedia article about it... Gila came up with the basics of what that article says but it also mentioned that it was a motto of the British Order of the Garter...

 

Dad's favorite raincoat........

 

If the rooster is keeping the hen warm.....what's keeping the rooster warm ???

Huh..huh.. ???

 

The hen gets a warm back; the rooster gets a warm front!

Can't fowl have an innocent cuddle?