Carved 'Bugbear' Coconut with Scenes of a Native American Indian (1700 to 1800 Anglo/American)

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Coconut

Kunstkammer typically included exotic substances representing the three kingdoms of nature: animal, vegetable and mineral. Collected in their natural form sometimes these 'naturalia' objects would be transformed into elaborate works of art and therefore became examples of human craftsmanship or 'artificialia'.

A Very Finely Carved 'Bugbear' Coconut with Scenes of a Native American Indian
With his bow and arrow confronting a monkey, a bear holding his genitalia lighting a large cannon, a cherub standing on a pedestal playing a flute and two entwined hearts pierced by an arrow. Swags of acorns and oak leaves beneath. The bugbear's head carved with two cupids in his hair. Probably French sailors work
Circa 1780

Size: 15cm long, 10cm dia. (max) – 6 ins long, 4 ins dia. (max)