Though unmarked, I believe this tobacco jar was made by the Kornilov Brothers Factory of Russia between 1840 and 1850. A similar example is illustrated in the Batenin/Kornilov book from 2008. It is also possible this copy was made after the original by a different factory. I defer to the experts in this matter.
I admit I passed this charmer up the first time it was listed because the lid was gone. I regretted it though. It stayed in my mind as a missed opportunity. I was so glad to see it re-listed a couple months later.
The missing lid takes the form of a mob cap for her and a tricorn hat for him. It’s doubtful I will ever find a replacement but who knows.
This jar makes a fun night light with a battery LED inside at any rate. You can see by the contrasting light and dark that it was press moulded. The amount of light that passes through the wall is directly related to the thickness of the porcelain. A cast form would transmit light more evenly, not that you couldn’t tell the same by close examination.
Great character subjects in the tradition of the Toby jug. The woman with her sublime smile and endearing eyes holding a fish in one hand and a cup in the other. The gentleman with his wide toothy grin enjoying his pipe. A nod to the earthly pleasures of food, drink and tobacco.
14.6 cm in height.
