"Scissorman" fairytale box. 19th century and probably by Stobwasser.

A rare and rather astonishing papier mache box, most likely by German maker, Stobwasser. Stobwasser began making this type of both in the mid 18th century. We're not sure how old this example is but probably early-mid 19th century. 

It shows Scissorman, the German folklore character who would cut off the nodses of bad children, riding on his swan and brandishing his huge scissors. Macabre and memorable! The subject makes this box very rare and desirable.

Scissorman is now mostly known to us as the villain in the popular 1845 German children's tale, Struwwelpeter.