Antique Black Forest Carved Wood Inkwell, Bear Figure with Log Pen Holder, Stand
Another charming old Black Forest bear (bears are everyone's favorite) and this time he's likely lumbering through a forest, a pen tray in that front half-log and the thatch or foliage top to the right is the inkwell. All you need is a bit of ink, a dip pen, and some paper - write a book about bears, why not? These carved trinkets were very popular with Grand Tour travelers who visited the Alpine villages of Switzerland, Germany, even parts of France, where remarkably talented carvers supplied them with a wide variety of choices in carved forest mementos, from little bears and animals like this one to huge carved china cabinets, hunt themed wall plaques, incredibly fine clocks housed in forest themed carvings and jewelry boxes galore. Each tourist's memento that survives today is a testament to the Old World carvers' amazing skill, patience, and industry. They are fabulous accents for Country French or English Manor decor, or cabin & ski lodge, alike. Fabulous for all types of sett