An exceptional example of Swiss Black Forest carving at its most inventive — an anthropomorphic hound dressed as a hunter, standing upright as a figural tobacco jar, the head forming a removable lid, carved in walnut at Brienz and dated 1870.
The hound sits upright on a naturalistic oval base, dressed in a caped hunting coat and feathered hat, a rifle held upright at his side. A fringed game bag hangs at his flank, rendered in precise crosshatch detail that contrasts with the rougher texture of the coat — cloth, fur, and leather, each given its own surface treatment, every material individually observed.
The expression is the piece's great achievement. Where the companion fox hunter carries a quality of knowing cunning, this hound is altogether different: world-weary, slightly doleful, the eyes drooping with the resignation of a dog who has been out in all weathers and expects nothing better. It is a characterization of genuine comic sympathy, achieved through affectionate observation rather than caricature.
The head lifts cleanly at the collar to reveal the tobacco compartment within, the join concealed by the modeling of the cape collar so that, closed, the figure reads as a complete sculptural whole. The walnut retains a warm, rich patina that deepens surface contrasts and accentuates the quality of the toolwork throughout.
Dated 1870, the piece was produced at the height of the Brienz industry's international reputation, when the workshops of the Bernese Oberland were exhibiting at the great international exhibitions and world fairs, and their work was acquired by collectors across Europe and America.
A companion piece — an anthropomorphic fox dressed as a hunter, also a tobacco jar and also dated 1870 — is available separately. The two figures share subject, date, and evident workshop origin.
Condition: Very good overall. Walnut retains a rich original patina throughout. Carving is complete and crisply preserved. Head lid removable and intact. All elements original; interior in original unlined state. Minor wear consistent with age and honest use; no restorations noted.
17” Height
Literature Jay Arenski, Simon Daniels, and Michael Daniels, Swiss Carvings: The Art of the Black Forest, 1820–1940 (2006).
An exceptional example of Swiss Black Forest carving at its most inventive — an anthropomorphic hound dressed as a hunter, standing upright as a figural tobacco jar, the head forming a removable lid, carved in walnut at Brienz and dated 1870.
The hound sits upright on a naturalistic oval base, dressed in a caped hunting coat and feathered hat, a rifle held upright at his side. A fringed game bag hangs at his flank, rendered in precise crosshatch detail that contrasts with the rougher texture of the coat — cloth, fur, and leather, each given its own surface treatment, every material individually observed.
The expression is the piece's great achievement. Where the companion fox hunter carries a quality of knowing cunning, this hound is altogether different: world-weary, slightly doleful, the eyes drooping with the resignation of a dog who has been out in all weathers and expects nothing better. It is a characterization of genuine comic sympathy, achieved through affectionate observation rather than caricature.
The head lifts cleanly at the collar to reveal the tobacco compartment within, the join concealed by the modeling of the cape collar so that, closed, the figure reads as a complete sculptural whole. The walnut retains a warm, rich patina that deepens surface contrasts and accentuates the quality of the toolwork throughout.
Dated 1870, the piece was produced at the height of the Brienz industry's international reputation, when the workshops of the Bernese Oberland were exhibiting at the great international exhibitions and world fairs, and their work was acquired by collectors across Europe and America.
A companion piece — an anthropomorphic fox dressed as a hunter, also a tobacco jar and also dated 1870 — is available separately. The two figures share subject, date, and evident workshop origin.
Condition: Very good overall. Walnut retains a rich original patina throughout. Carving is complete and crisply preserved. Head lid removable and intact. All elements original; interior in original unlined state. Minor wear consistent with age and honest use; no restorations noted.
17” Height
Literature Jay Arenski, Simon Daniels, and Michael Daniels, Swiss Carvings: The Art of the Black Forest, 1820–1940 (2006).
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