Continental Turned Wood String Jar With Copper Grotesque Mask Lid C. 1900

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Formed as a compact, barrel-bodied string container, this Continental example is turned from a warm-toned hardwood with crisp lathe work … Read more Formed as a compact, barrel-bodied string container, this Continental example is turned from a warm-toned hardwood with crisp lathe work expressed through concentric rings at the shoulder and a gently swelling profile that sits securely in the hand. The top is fitted with a circular copper cover centered by an expressive repoussé bearded mask, modeled with arched brows, heavy-lidded eyes, a pronounced nose, curled moustache, and a full, striated beard; the ears are distinctly human in character, giving the visage the theatrical presence of a “grotesque” or mascaron rather than a leonine head. A beaded perimeter frames the copper medallion, visually echoing the fine turnings of the wooden body. The mask’s mouth is pierced with two openings that function as the dispenser, allowing twine to be fed through and cut as needed, while the lid lifts away to reveal a turned interior suited to storing a ball of string. The combination of utilitarian purpose and boldly modeled metalwork places the piece within a late 19th to early 20th century tradition of decorative domestic wares, where practical objects were enlivened by folk-art inflection and historicist ornament drawn from architectural masks and grotesques.

Measurements: 4.25" h x 4.625" w x 4.625" d See less