HÔTEL DES VENTES DE ROANNE
184
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19th-century stoneware An extraordinary tobacco jar depictin…
See original version (French)
184
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19th-century stoneware An extraordinary tobacco jar depictin…
See original version (French)
Voluntary lot
Description
19th-century stoneware
An extraordinary tobacco jar depicting a human skull with empty eye sockets and a toothless jaw, which further enhances its sense of authenticity. For what strikes the viewer first here is the perfect anatomical precision, with the highly aesthetic dolichocephaly and the positioning of the sutures between the various bones: the frontal, the occipital, the two temporal and the two parietal. A lizard runs along the left temporal bone, whilst on the top of the skull, a toad—crouching and ready to pounce—serves as a handle. This snuff bottle raises several questions:
- first of all, the significance of this toad, which appears in the same position but is more finely carved on the next bottle, which, for its part, is from the Far East. Perhaps simply because, like lizards (jar 338) and other reptiles, it is a common sight in cemeteries. Perhaps also because, amongst the Indians, it is the emblem of the rain god Tlaloc who, when he puffed on his pipe, caused the sky to fill with clouds, the thunder to rumble and the lightning – of which he was the son – to strike. It also features on Austrian ex-votos placed near statues of patron saints to thank them for warding off ghosts.
Not to mention the toad of Argos…
- Then there is the question of who such an object was intended for: a clergyman? A philosopher? As a memento mori to better remind one that ‘You are dust, and to dust you shall return’? Perhaps it was a gift from grateful students to a scientist—a professor of anatomy, for example? Or did it belong to a career soldier who would not hesitate to sacrifice his life for his prince or his country; the skull was indeed the emblem of certain Spanish and Saxon regiments. We also know that many pipe bowls are reproductions of skulls, objects of a veritable cult in certain German or Austrian provinces. It is entirely conceivable that this snuffbox reflects this trend.
- Finally, given the absence of any markings, there is the question of the origin of this snuffbox and the workshop where it was made. Given the exceptionally high quality of its craftsmanship, it must have been made by a professional – a sculptor, for example – who created this single snuffbox either on commission or for himself, and who did not deem it necessary to sign it. It may also be an exceptional piece, yet produced in a factory.
Which one? Is it the famous skull by Dickens and Weller that nobody has ever seen? Is it an English piece, as an expert assured me? Or a piece from the Beauvais region? I would tend to favour a Germanic origin, where skulls form part of the folklore. Johann Maresch illustrated the previous snuffbox in this manner, made of white terracotta with a subtle glaze, and the quality of this piece’s craftsmanship could be an argument in favour of that workshop. In the Horowitz catalogue, listed under number 81 as a ‘BB’, there is also a skull in the same style and colour as this one, but topped with a sailor’s cap.
Lid restored with plaster.
H 17.5 cm
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures modified on 07/10/2026 at 4:48 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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