Featured Carved coconut face jar

Easily the best thing I found yesterday. Was £15 in an antiques shop, thought gotta be worth it as looks to have genuine age (about 6" tall)

Was wondering where it might have came from, and what age it would be

Looks to be a wooden plug in mouth, usage ?

Any thoughts appreciated

 

Cool thanks for the info inh, I'll look into that, bugbear is a new one on me

 

I think the eyes are those shells I can never remember the names of

 

I have seen Mexican and Spanish....seen it called a sailor's box, flask or love token container.

 

The eyes are operculum. I learned what that is just recently here on the jewelry board!

 

Ah that's it, thanks laura

 

Charlie, you've done it again. Not as ornately carved as many but lots of integrity in its simplicity and great expressiveness.

Debora

 

Thanks deb, I was struck with him straight away

Everything there was way overpriced, I think this might have been overlooked as something naff, I agree that he's got integrity

 

He also reminds me of a Hannibal lecter emoji

 

SOME DAYS, you 'guys' are ALMOST making me want to go out and find some more antiques/stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!! COOL, fun find, Charlie!!!!!!!!! Which I need like another hole in the head!!!!!!

 

I suspect he was overlooked. I can't find any that have sold on line for less than three figures.

Debora

 

I am not very sure about operculum. I am thinking glass

 

I'm pretty sure they are David, just through the irregularity of both

I've got several loose ones, and can just tell by the colours

 

Those are operculum, and that is a very old carving. I suspect 18th C, there was a great fashion for them. I think it may be a table snuff box. Hell of a find.

I'd email Roseberys with an image, see what they think.

 

Operculum (trap door) of Turbo petholatus, also known as "cat's eye" shells.



http://www.luckymojo.com/catseye.html

 

It has a lovely old hook.

Debora

 

Really nice find!

~Cheryl

 

Awesome, thanks for the info obb, now wouldn't that be something

I'll give that a shot and see what they say

Charlie

 

I was going to say nearly every old coconut item I’ve seen cross the auction block has gone for pretty good to great money. Always tied into nautical collections as items sailors made to pass time as far as I’ve seen.