Antique Black Forest 9" Bear, a Match, Spill or Cigar Holder, Inkwell? c. 1860
Antique 19th century hand carved Black Forest (Swiss/German) carved bear, either originally to hold matches and rolled paper "spills" which were tools used routinely to light fires, hearth, candles. The long rolled paper wands of sorts would give an extension to the time it takes to move fire between candles of an evening, or to start a warming fire or cook stove. This bear's open log upon which he sits would have been where those rolled papers were stored and the open log in front, match holder. Another option is that he might have had match holder and a few cigars for after dinner service, in place of the spills in that log. And finally, it might be that he was once fitted with a glass inkwell insert and the dip pens would be stored in the open log. You'll find the perfect way to use and display him. The carving is nice and large at 9" tall, and is a remarkable work of anatomical artistry representative of the very best of the Animalier movement that dominated mid-1800s and expressed