1 / 7
three skulls sitting next to each other on a tablea white skull mug with a lid and a skull on itan image of a skull with a smile on it ' s facean image of a skull with a smile on it ' s facea ceramic skull on a book on a white surfacea white cup with a piece of wood sticking out of itporcelain figurine of a cat sitting on top of a book
HÔTEL DES VENTES DE ROANNE

183 - Glossy plaster, late 20th century A large white glazed plast…
See original version (French)

Sale commission
Description
Glossy plaster, late 20th century A large white glazed plaster tobacco pot depicting a skull, the base of which rests on a closed book bearing the inscription ‘Hell’ on its spine. It is fitted with a handle, like a drinking mug, and a lid whose knob is a small skull. This object has neither the aesthetic nor the symbolic value of the following three pots, but it shows us, if proof were needed, just how much the depiction of death was, for our close ancestors, a matter of course. No mark. H 12cm White-glazed terracotta, late 19th century A small snuff pot depicting a grinning skull that stares at us with its dried-up eyes, which can be glimpsed at the back of its eye sockets. What is striking here is not so much the quality of the sculpture or the anatomical accuracy of the skull’s structure as—as is always the case with Johann Maresch—the extraordinary expressiveness of the rendering. Whilst the two following depictions show Death in all her grim reality (fig 261) or in her hieratic mystery (fig 262), here Death, certain of her ultimate victory, clearly mocks the very transient living beings that we are. Marked on the base ‘JM’ followed by an asterisk for Johann Maresch and an engraved number 3366; on the underside of the lid ‘M3’, possibly the maker’s mark. H 17.5 cm Partially glazed painted bisque, 20th century A skull-shaped tobacco jar, the lower jaw of which has been replaced by a book—perhaps a Bible—painted red and glazed, as are the prominent white teeth. On top of the skull, a lizard – a reptile commonly found in cemeteries – serves as a handle. Marked ‘Foreign’ on the base, suggesting it is likely of English origin. Lid broken. Height: 15 cm
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale Sale COLLECTION TOBACCO POTS
Auction location
Auction time 07/17/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures modified on 07/10/2026 at 4:48 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
You may also like