Carved Tobacco Jar – “the Blacksmith And The Soldier” – Folk Art – Military Decor – Curiosity

Second half of the 19th century, France – Auvergne – Massif Central – Haute-Loire. A tobacco jar carved entirely from a single block of wood, combining symbols of labor, faith, and war in a dense and vigorous composition. The lid, adorned with a relief teeming with fruit—some openwork—and foliage, embodies abundance and prosperity. The body of the jar displays a particularly rich iconography: crossed cannons, a sword, a percussion revolver, anvil, hammer, anchor, a cross pattée, and a helmeted figure. This last figure, wearing a plumed helmet and stylized armor, evokes a heroic soldier, perhaps inspired by the Imperial Guard or the knights of the First Empire, according to the popular imagination of the late 19th century. Through the combined presence of the anvil and weapons, the sculpture celebrates both the blacksmith and the soldier—two essential figures of courage and labor—united by their shared relationship to materials and effort. This alliance of iron and fire, of combat and creation, encapsulates a whole facet of rural Auvergne symbolism. The four-legged base, carved from a single piece of wood, lends the whole an organic and powerful, almost animalistic, foundation. The deep, satiny brown patina reveals long use and a timeless presence. Condition: antique patina, slight wear consistent with the overall appearance, stable and homogeneous sculpture. Dimensions: Height (with lid): 37 cm Shipping: ALL DELIVERIES ARE MADE BY DHL EXPRESS ONLY.