Rare and unusual silver mounted form of Bugbear snuff bottle. The wonderful extensively carved face set with silver reflecting eyes. The mouth opening framed in Silver with the stopper being the handle to enable refilling. The mouth has a protruding tongue and fang teeth. There is an ornate chain to attach to a belt hook. The body of the piece is beautifully carved with love token gestures of flowers and musical instruments and was almost certainly Sailor commissioned as a love or marriage token piece to return home with. Bugbears were supposed to be frightening pieces with gargoyle type faces designed to shock but in reality they have mainly more caricature type features that are amusing rather than frightening. 11cm long Circa 1860
Rare and unusual silver mounted form of Bugbear snuff bottle. The wonderful extensively carved face set with silver reflecting eyes. The mouth opening framed in Silver with the stopper being the handle to enable refilling. The mouth has a protruding tongue and fang teeth. There is an ornate chain to attach to a belt hook. The body of the piece is beautifully carved with love token gestures of flowers and musical instruments and was almost certainly Sailor commissioned as a love or marriage token piece to return home with. Bugbears were supposed to be frightening pieces with gargoyle type faces designed to shock but in reality they have mainly more caricature type features that are amusing rather than frightening. 11cm long Circa 1860
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