Antique Black Forest Swiss carved limewood bear liqueur set c1900

Size:  42 cm to top of decanter, 25 cm to rim of basket

Condition:  Very good condition, no chips cracks or restoration to glassware, carved figure very good with one shrinkage crack which has been glued (see image).

This superb and rare piece is full a great character and humour.  It is carved from a single piece of limewood (the pegs holding the glasses are separate but original).  The bear has glass eyes and black and red woodstain applied to parts of its mouth and paws.

The carafe and the glass in the bear's paw are original, the other 5 glasses are a good but not exact match.

Carvings in this style originate from Switzerland although they are usually referred to as Black Forest carvings.  The chief centre of wood carving of this kind was the town of Brienz.  The piece is not signed or dated, as is usual with these carvings.  Black forest carving vary considerably in quality and this one is at the top end.  It dates to 1900-1930.