19th Century Tole Snuff Box/Vesta Shoe, Hand Engraved with Best Red Soles! persistent faces but I think it was

but I think it was well stored away as it's in terrific condition

with a glued repair to an old split there

I would be pretty confident in guessing that the Raymond Stahl who painted it grew each of these vegetables himself

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

Born at Irvington-on-Hudson

19th Century Tole Snuff Box/Vesta Shoe, Hand Engraved with Best Red Soles! persistent faces but I think it was(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,