Articles
Case or small cup finely carved tagua, decorated with two characters around a flower, as well as cross and a chalice, marine work or convict * of XIXth century.
This case is in good condition.
A note: some small accidents in the above pictures show small cracks.
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* The "palm ivory" from the Amazon rainforest bear fruit whose pulpit inner (endosperm) becomes very hard when dry and texture very similar to ivory. It is this which is called vegetable ivory or tagua tagua. The tagua nut carves, turns, polishes easily and almost as finely as ivory. The tagua nut was worked by the sailors who made such small boxes, snuff graters or tobacco also made by convicts. The latter worked to pass the time but mainly to get some money to improve their lives. Can also be attributed to sailors during their long journeys. These objects are corozo finest examples of folk art.
