Magnificent & rare antique Victorian era Black Forest hand carved 16 5/8" decanter box or cave a liqueur, a liquor tantalus or cellarette with impressive size & detail, hunt themed sculptural or figural top with hawk or falcon & prey, unique foliate accented ‘cobblestone’ body with glass windows on all sides and removable carved caddy holding 20pc etched glassware within! Fabulous! The box stands 17 3/8" tall with figures and is 16 5/8" wide at the base. WOW! Huge, these old liquor boxes are few and far between, even more of a unique find with the hunt style figures, aged wood finish and original glass windows you see here. Wonderful hand carved detail and truly immense visual appeal throughout. The entire lid and front panel open upward completely showcasing the inner removable carved wood caddy & glassware inside. The set includes four decanters and fourteen small goblets or cordials, there have been some replacement pieces (listed below and in the images) but it's still a perfectly usable and definitely a visually impressive decorative accent. A wonderful and rare piece, don't miss it!
If you've followed us for a while you know I'm a big fan of the old hand carved "Black Forest" items that come to us from 19th century Switzerland, Germany, parts of France and Italy, where they pleased the Grand Tour tourists and still please us all today. These hand carved treasures range from whimsical small bears to large and elaborate mantel clocks, wall clocks, wall plaques showing the most awesome anatomical studies of stag, fowl, "fruits of the hunt". I've got more to list so look through the vast collection. I've just used quite a few piece in our own 2nd home decoration , Rocky Mountains location, and love the look as well as the heritage since my own ancestors hail from that region and others. The pieces work well in Country Manor, French Country, Ski Lodge or Hunt Lodge and even in a den or office. Everything from a pocket watch case to huge plaques - from needle and thread holders to cigar caddy - these decorative objects survive today a testament to the artisan's craft of carving wood.
Very good condition. Possibly a tiny edge or corner nip or two, wing tip possible but no large chips and no warping to note. One of the decanters has a replacement stopper, similar to the others but doesn’t quite fit all the way into the neck of the bottle. Also, there are replacement cordials or small goblets, see images to see the breakdown of number of original and replacements. There is also a split or crack in the bottom/base wood panel. The glass windows or inserts in the box itself are all in great condition, no chips or cracks that I can see. Working lock with old steel skeleton key along with all original hinges and hardware. See pictures for all measurements.
