H: 13 in / 33 cm
Description
Constructed in carved linden wood, the naturalistically carved bear, with glass eyes grasps a brass spill pot, the hinged head disclosing the interior.
Brienz, Bernese Oberland.
Circa 1900.
Brienz, in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland was remarked upon in Baedeker's Travel Guide, as having a population of 2400, of whom 600 persons were employed as woodcarvers, to supply the tourist trade to Switzerland with mementos of the tour. A museum devoted entirely to the art of wood carving may be visited today.
Literature; 'Swiss Carvings, The Art of the Black Forest' by Arenski, Daniels and Daniels, published by The Antique Collectors Club 2004 shows similar pieces p62-64 71-71. We have a catalogue of a selection of works by Peter Trauffer of Lucerne, which shows and almost identical tobacco pot under item 2083.
