Coconut Powder Carved Coconut

Powder flask carved from a coconut, with floral decoration (leaves and branches) including oak and vine, on a lattice background; a fantastic animal's maw at the end.
Late 18th - Early 19th century.
Height : 13 cm

Old minor cracks due to aging of the wood over time (shrinkage, expansion of plant cells in the contrast of the seasons). Old restoration. Stable subject.
Coconut carving dates back several centuries, mainly in tropical areas, where these wooden shells abound. A prolific craft, objects were produced for everyday use in polished and carved hard shells (cups, tobacco boxes, decorative objects) for Europe, as objects of curiosity. At the same time, many cultures carved rounded wooden nuts; we might mention Hediao (Chinese carved nuts with monks and animals), rosary beads (Christian, Buddhist), or grotesque faces in chestnuts (European folk art).
This pear is a fine example of craftsmanship, imagination and a touch of the exotic in a collection.