Featured What is this carved in relief 3D wood jar w/African(?) figures - tobacco jar?

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by journeymagazine, Oct 2, 2021.

  1. journeymagazine

    journeymagazine Well-Known Member

    It measures 5" tall (6" to top knob) and 4.5" across & has some beautiful carved in relief figures going around it.
    My first thought was a tobacco jar but it seems small for that + I didn't think African? haitian? artists wood make a tobacco jar?
    Any idea what it is and/or how old it might be?
    Thank you!

    ART CARVED AFRICAN JAR WOOD CARVED TOBACCO 1AA.JPG ART CARVED AFRICAN JAR WOOD CARVED TOBACCO 3AA.JPG ART CARVED AFRICAN JAR WOOD CARVED TOBACCO 2AA.JPG ART CARVED AFRICAN JAR WOOD CARVED TOBACCO 4AA.JPG ART CARVED AFRICAN JAR WOOD CARVED TOBACCO 5AA.JPG ART CARVED AFRICAN JAR WOOD CARVED TOBACCO 6AA.JPG
     
    judy, KSW and LauraGarnet02 like this.
  2. Boland

    Boland Well-Known Member

    looks like a typical ice bucket at first glance (but no lining/inner) I would still have thought tobacco holder. If not,then just a large round trinket box?
     
    kyratango and judy like this.
  3. Boland

    Boland Well-Known Member

    AF820E2C-4FFB-4719-B401-A6FA645E1E71.png Also what’s interesting is the figures on the lid being so different from the ones (grain grinding)on the box/holder

    Something similar. Round treen box.
     
    kyratango and i need help like this.
  4. journeymagazine

    journeymagazine Well-Known Member

    Thank you!
    What's a treen box?
    PS - If it was a typical ice bucket it could only hold 1 or 2 cubes!
     
  5. Boland

    Boland Well-Known Member

    Just looked at the dimensions now again. So about 13x12cm (at least a few ice cubes :)) Not that small could very well be a tobacco jar (as you were thinking) That’s what I think.
    https://za.pinterest.com/pin/318137161178220085/

    Or then a trinket box. Treen means made from wood.
     
  6. laura9797

    laura9797 Well-Known Member

    You could also try googling Betel Nut and see what pops up....
     
    Boland and i need help like this.
  7. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

    Agree with Laura. One of the people is using a mortar and pestle to grind the nut.
     
  8. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    Please provide a link to this box you found, so we can see what the seller said about it.

    The style of carving is typical of east African work - Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, etc. The scenes seem to be agricultural. It was probably made for sale as a trinket box, with no specific use in mind.

    Betel nut use is most common in South and Southeast Asia.
     
    Boland likes this.
  9. Boland

    Boland Well-Known Member

    Sorry,I tried to do that initially but couldn’t (don’t think the listing/link is available any more)
     
  10. Boland

    Boland Well-Known Member

    Does look African to me..
     
  11. journeymagazine

    journeymagazine Well-Known Member

    I couldn't find it either
     
  12. janetpjohn

    janetpjohn Well-Known Member

    Tobacco jars usually have a place for a sponge inside the lid.
     
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