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Skull & Crossbones Ceramic Holder
For your consideration:
There are two descriptions for this, and I will give you both of them.
The first, I was told this was a rather fancy Victorian device that was used to kill ants.
The poison bait was placed beneath this lovely gilded ceramic container and the ants would
crawl into the slot on the back of the container and never come out again.
This sounded entirely plausible to me, considering how the Victorians were kind of over-the-top ornate with most everything they did.
But someone else told me that this was a Victorian era ceramic base for a crucifix. This made even more sense as
the Skull and Crossbones is a reference to John's Gospel 18:19 that the place of his crucifixion was called 'Golgotha' (translation:'the Place of a Skull').
Frankly, I like either description.
We can agree that it is indeed Victorian, though I cannot make out what is written on the front as the gold paint has begun to fade.
It actually looks like real gold was used to paint on it, but I can't be too sure. It is very brilliant, and still has a deep luster to it.
There is a very old tag still attached to the back, and I cannot make out what it says, but it looks like GUW? The size is 4 and 1/2 inches wide in the front, 3 and 1/2 inches deep on the side, and it stands nearly 4 inches tall.
The overall condition of this piece (a very favorite of mine, which I have had on my drawing desk for a few years now) is very, very good.
No chips or crack, nor crazing. It does need a gentle cleaning but I will let the new owner take care of it.
I have only seen one other piece just like this (that was where I got the ant story from) and I am pricing this one at what the previous one I saw went for.
Also, I am not sure yet I want to sell it, hence the high price.
Order by ITEM# Vintage-404
PRICE: $174.95
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