Antique Black Forest 9" Bear, a Match, Spill or Cigar Holder, Inkwell? c. 1860 dishes itself a work of art

itself a work of art

needleworks were one of the few ‘arts’ open to young girls and a means of creativity and also storytelling

75" and is

The pattern number for the set is "RCD18"

Antique Black Forest 9" Bear, a Match, Spill or Cigar Holder, Inkwell? c. 1860 dishes itself a work of artAntique 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