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ID #SA1205113
FOR SALE
£550
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19th Century Naive Carved Coconut Bug Bear Flask
Mark Jones Antiques
for sale €644     $699
£550
Mark Jones Antiques

Mark Jones Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Sep 2016
View Dealers Stock Page
  • About Us
    Mark jones antiques are dealers in fine antique furniture, ‘design’, works of art, and works by the sporting artist ‘snaffles’.
Id #SA1205113
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19th Century Naive Carved Coconut Bug Bear Flask

19th century
Description

A naive coconut shell Bug Bear powder flask, circa 1820, incise carved with a giraffe, a fish, a deer and others around an anchor, bone inset eyes, on a bespoke turned and ebonised stand.

The inclusion of an anchor in the iconography on this Bug Bear supports the theory that these flasks were carved by sailors who visited the West Indies in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Physical Dimensions
Height
10cm (3.94")
Width
11cm (4.33")
Depth
8.5cm (3.35")
Declaration

Mark Jones Antiques has dated this Carved Coconut Bugbear Flask to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1205113
Dealers Internal Reference
MJWOA0077
Dealers Notes

National and International shipping can be arranged on request at competitive rates.

Description
A naive coconut shell Bug Bear powder flask, circa 1820, incise carved with a giraffe, a fish, a deer and others around an anchor, bone inset eyes, on a bespoke turned and ebonised stand.
“
The inclusion of an anchor in the iconography on this Bug Bear supports the theory that these flasks were carved by sailors who visited the West Indies in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Mark Jones Antiques
Height
10cm (3.94")
Width
11cm (4.33")
Depth
8.5cm (3.35")
Date of Manufacture

Mark Jones Antiques has dated this Carved Coconut Bugbear Flask to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1205113
Dealers Internal Ref
MJWOA0077
Mark Jones Antiques
Mark Jones Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Sep 2016

Mark jones antiques are dealers in fine antique furniture, ‘design’, works of art, and works by the sporting artist ‘snaffles’.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Mark Jones Antiques Profile Page

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A 19th-century naive carved coconut bugbear flask with inlaid eyes, geometric surface engraving, and brass suspension rings, resting on a dark turned wooden pedestal.
1 / 14
Archive I A 19th-century naive carved coconut bugbear flask with inlaid eyes, geometric surface engraving, and brass suspension rings, resting on a dark turned wooden pedestal.

19th Century Naive Carved Coconut Bug Bear Flask

Archive II A 19th-century naive carved coconut bugbear flask with inlaid eyes, geometric surface engraving, and brass suspension rings, resting on a dark turned wooden pedestal. View II
Archive III A 19th-century naive carved coconut bugbear flask with inlaid eyes, geometric surface engraving, and brass suspension rings, resting on a dark turned wooden pedestal. View III
Archive IV A 19th-century naive carved coconut bugbear flask with inlaid eyes, geometric surface engraving, and brass suspension rings, resting on a dark turned wooden pedestal. View IV
Archive V A 19th-century naive carved coconut bugbear flask with inlaid eyes, geometric surface engraving, and brass suspension rings, resting on a dark turned wooden pedestal. View V
Archive VI A 19th-century naive carved coconut bugbear flask with inlaid eyes, geometric surface engraving, and brass suspension rings, resting on a dark turned wooden pedestal. View VI
Archive VII A 19th-century naive carved coconut bugbear flask with inlaid eyes, geometric surface engraving, and brass suspension rings, resting on a dark turned wooden pedestal. View VII
Archive VIII A 19th-century naive carved coconut bugbear flask with inlaid eyes, geometric surface engraving, and brass suspension rings, resting on a dark turned wooden pedestal. View VIII
Archive IX A 19th-century naive carved coconut bugbear flask with inlaid eyes, geometric surface engraving, and brass suspension rings, resting on a dark turned wooden pedestal. View IX
Archive X A 19th-century naive carved coconut bugbear flask with inlaid eyes, geometric surface engraving, and brass suspension rings, resting on a dark turned wooden pedestal. View X
Archive XI A 19th-century naive carved coconut bugbear flask with inlaid eyes, geometric surface engraving, and brass suspension rings, resting on a dark turned wooden pedestal. View XI
Archive XII A 19th-century naive carved coconut bugbear flask with inlaid eyes, geometric surface engraving, and brass suspension rings, resting on a dark turned wooden pedestal. View XII
Archive XIII A 19th-century naive carved coconut bugbear flask with inlaid eyes, geometric surface engraving, and brass suspension rings, resting on a dark turned wooden pedestal. View XIII
Archive XIV A 19th-century naive carved coconut bugbear flask with inlaid eyes, geometric surface engraving, and brass suspension rings, resting on a dark turned wooden pedestal. View XIV
Enlarged Archival View
Mark Jones Antiques

Mark Jones Antiques
Telephone 07889 071 414
Location
Northwick Park
Cotswolds
United Kingdom

By appointment only.
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/markjones
Verified Since Sep 2016
Items For Sale 77
Items Sold 315
Mark Jones Antiques
Mark Jones Antiques
Verified Since Sep 2016
View Dealer Info
Location: Northwick Park, Cotswolds, United Kingdom, , By appointment only.
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/markjones
Verified
Sep 2016
For Sale
77
Sold
315
A 19th-century naive carved coconut bugbear flask with inlaid eyes, geometric surface engraving, and brass suspension rings, resting on a dark turned wooden pedestal.
19th Century Naive Carved Coconut Bug Bear Flask
Ref: SA1205113
A 19th-century naive carved coconut bugbear flask with inlaid eyes, geometric surface engraving, and brass suspension rings, resting on a dark turned wooden pedestal.
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FAQs

A bugbear flask is a 19th-century decorative or functional vessel carved from a whole coconut shell, frequently crafted by sailors, soldiers, or folk artisans. The natural pores and stem end of the coconut shell were incorporated into the design to form a grotesque or caricatured face.

These vessels were created using polished coconut shells incised with geometric or figurative patterns. Accent details, such as eyes, were inlaid with bone, mother-of-pearl, or shell, while stoppers and hanging rings were formed from brass or wood.

Authentic period examples exhibit age-appropriate surface patination, smooth handling wear, and hand-cut incisions following the natural contours of the shell. Metal elements, such as brass suspension rings, typically display natural oxidisation.

Display the vessel on a wooden bookshelf, mantelpiece, or console table alongside leather-bound books and brass instruments to create a cabinet-of-curiosities display. Placing it on its turned pedestal base elevates the three-dimensional carving.

Maintain the surface by dusting with a soft, dry cloth and applying a light coat of natural beeswax polish periodically to keep the natural shell hydrated. Keep the item away from direct heat sources, extreme humidity fluctuations, and prolonged sunlight exposure.
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