An unusual early Portuguese faience ashtray modelled as a fish, with a raised snake-form support designed to rest a smoking pipe.
Finished in an attractive ochre-yellow glaze, the piece has wonderful sculptural character and a distinctly naturalistic appearance. Its fish and reptile decoration is closely related to the ceramic vocabulary associated with Caldas da Rainha and Portuguese Palissy-style pottery, making it an appealing piece of Portuguese tobacciana as well as a decorative collectable. I would date it approximately c. 1900–1920, although the absence of a visible maker’s mark means the precise workshop and date cannot presently be confirmed.
It comes from an old Portuguese manor house.
Condition: Please note that this is a genuinely old piece with significant damage and wear. The tail is broken and partially missing. There are additional small edge chips, areas of glaze loss, crazing, surface marks and wear consistent with age. Please examine all photographs carefully before purchasing.
Dimensions: 13 cm long × 7.5 cm wide × 3 cm high.
Weight: 0.100 kg.
Material: glazed Portuguese earthenware / faience.
Origin: Portugal.
