Black Forest Breinzware Large Inkwell, carved as begging terrier with tongue protruding, with inset glass eyes, the hinged head concealing a glass inkwell, the dogs front paws mounted on a naturalistically carved hollowed tree forming the pen tray, Brienz, Switzerland ca. 1880. An exceptionally well-carved piece.

BOOK REFERENCES:

Peter F. Blackman, BLACK FOREST WOOD CARVINGS: THE HISTORY OF SWISS BRIENZERWARE. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd, 2009, p. 276.

*Jay Areneski, Simon Daniels and Michael Daniels, SWISS CARVING: THE ART OF THE 'BLACK FOREST:' 1820-1940, Suffolk, UK: Antique Collectors' Club, Publishers, 2005, pp. 13-14. Jay Arenski, et al, quotes Swiss Poet Heinrich Federer, who said in his memoirs, "Woodcarving brought riches to the village [of Brienz]. It became all the fashion and no Englishman left the Bernese Highlands without having seen the Giessbach, having eaten a fat roasted eel, and having bought a Brienz woodcarving." Arenski continues, "Thus, as the tourist industry flourished and thrived, so did the carvers, selling their wares to the well-heeled visitors."

This fashion had been set in motion by Queen Victoria's visit to the area in April 1868, and by her subsequent inspiration to build a Swiss chalet at Osborne House and fill it with Black Forest Swiss carvings (see footnote).