Featured Antique German pottery rabbit w/black hat. Holes in top... toothpicks?

This little guy has "Germany" on the base, faint number. Now see that my photo of the base didn't come out, but it is that tell-tale old lettering you see on older German items. Can take a new pic if needed. Would this be for toothpicks? Hat pins?

Thanks!

 

So cute! Reminds me of someone's avatar (that is not a rabbit.) Tie-die?

 

Ashtray.

 

So for matches and ashtray? Thanks!

And yes, reminds me of someone's avatar!

 

Tie.dye.cat. https://www.antiquers.com/threads/depression-era-glass-what-is-this-pattern.34444/#post-484726

Has not been around in a longggggggg time.

 

what a sweet piece that is Lucille I wonder if it is a Schafer and Vater piece?

 

Kind of has a Schafer and Vater look, will check. Thanks!

Was wondering if definitely a match holder? As I search others they all seem to have more of a single cylindrical opening for matches. Also the holes would probably each hold a single match, but only just on this guy. Could it be a hat pin holder for those shorter hat pins possibly?

I'll tag @tie.dye.cat

 

ashtray looks good to me, the matches would fit like this

 

Whoa, there you go. Love it! Thanks, CX!

 

Been around, just been lurking.

Those look like rabbit ears kind of to me - the rest, not so much. Cute guy though.

 

Well, it's good to actually see you!!

I agree the resemblance isn't great, but it was enough to remind me of your avatar!

 

Great to see you Tie Dye. Good point, maybe not a rabbit? What else could this be? A goat, maybe?

 

Maybe the holes were for the smoke to escape...

 

I see a rabbit with his ears pushed down by the hat. There are only 7 holes. Seems like you would need to restock it frequently if they were for matches. Also, don't combined match holder - ash tray pieces usually have a striker area, a rough place to get the match going? Is there such an area on this.

Since I feel it is ill suited to serve a smoker, my only other thought is that it is meant for dressing table or dresser top, as a catchall for the little bits. In that case, the holes would have to be for hat pins, hair pins, stock pins. It's a gentleman bunny, so perhaps stick/stock pins would live there, with only 1 gone at a time.