Folk Art – Reclining Alpine Man

This unique piece of folk art is a hand-carved figural inkstand modeled from a single block of wood, capturing a rustic, pastoral scene.

Physical Description & Features

• The Figure: The centerpiece is a reclining man resting on his side, dressed in traditional alpine-style attire, including a green jacket, a brimmed hat, and tall boots. His face is highly expressive, featuring a prominent mustache, a goatee, and arresting glass eyes that give the carving a lifelike, almost startling presence.
• The Missing Element: His hands are positioned as if they were originally gripping a long, thin object. Given the context of the piece, he most likely held a wooden walking stick or a long alpine horn, which has since been lost.
• Pen Holder: The “underbrush” or tangled branches behind the man are not merely decorative; they are designed as a naturalistic pen rest. A dip pen would have been cradled across these wooden “twigs” when not in use.
• The Inkwell: The set includes a faceted glass inkwell with a stem base that fits into a precisely carved circular hole in the wood. The lid is a matching faceted glass cap with a cork stopper that pulls out to provide access to the ink.

Origin: Is it Black Forest?

While this piece shares the spirit of Black Forest carvings, it is best described as a work of Alpine Folk Art.

• Style: Traditional Black Forest carvings (primarily from Brienz, Switzerland) were highly commercialized and often featured bears or dogs. This piece, with its rough-hewn base that retains the natural bark texture of the wood, is more characteristic of “vernacular” or village folk art.
• Region: It was likely made in the Austrian or German Alps. The clothing—specifically the hat and jacket—mirrors the Tracht (traditional costume) of these regions.
• Commercial vs. Private: This was not made for commercial purposes. The hand-painted finish and the inclusion of glass eyes in a human figure suggest it was a labor-intensive “one-off” piece, perhaps made by a skilled hobbyist or a local village carver rather than a factory.

Estimated Age

• Circa 1880–1910.
• The use of inserted glass eyes and the specific style of the faceted glass inkwell with a cork stopper are most consistent with the Late Victorian to Edwardian era.