19th Century Silver Toothpick Holder.

Toothpick holder in solid silver representing a peacock doing a wheel. The peacock is presented on a leafy support resting on a fine openwork base. The base is pierced to allow for toothpicks to be placed. The whole is presented on a circular base resting on four eagle legs. The use of toothpicks has been known since antiquity. In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, they were made of metal and could be reused, but it was in Portugal in the 16th century that they became disposable. The congregation of Mosteiro de Lorvão used the wood of orange trees and exported their production of finely carved "palitos especiales" to Europe and the Americas. To present them on the table, toothpick holders were created, competing in finesse and inventiveness.
H:6.29in. (16 cm) ; l: 3.93in. (10 cm).
Weight: 9.34oz(265g).
Silver marks:
Eagle mark 915 for Portugal.
Master goldsmith hallmark
Guarantee mark
Portuguese work of the 19th century.
Price: 950€.
REF: 8213-2