NAVIGATION

A Finely Carved ‘Bugbear’ Coconut Flask Decorated in the French Empire Style with Three Roundels Depicting a Lyre Two Horns and Sheet Music a Hunting Horn and Bag Two Doves Seated on a Quiver of Arrows an Empty Cartouche above Swagged in Military Trophies and Armaments
The face of the ‘bugbear’ inset with mother of pearl eyes the base carved with acanthus leaves
Probably French Napoleonic Prisoner of War Work intended as a shot flask for a gun
Early 19th Century

Size: 9cm high, 9cm wide, 12.5cm deep - 3½ ins high, 3½ ins wide, 5 ins deep 

As early imports into Europe coconuts, like ostrich eggs were great rarities, costly objects to be carved by skilled craftsmen who turned them into silver mounted goblets or fanciful jugs. Cleverly carved to accentuate the natural ‘bugbear’ markings into grotesque faces, these flasks were often used for shot when hunting with a gun for game. They vary enormously in quality and many of them are just crude souvenirs. Some are said to have been carved by Napoleonic prisoners of war and like this example, show great skill. They are also valuable as historic documentaries of the scenes and objects they portray.