Antique Japanese hand-carved wood skull, snake and frog tobacco jar/humidor with lid from the Meiji Period (1868 – 1912). The jar/humidor, in folk art style, features a snake winding in and out of the skull in search of its prey – a frog. The lid features a beautiully carved frog on top. The skull design is similar to a memento mori, used to remind a person of the shortness of life. The jar/humidor measures 6 1/2″ tall x 4″ wide x 3 3/4 deep. In Japan, the frog, (kaeru), is symbolic of fertility and good fortune, and, as the word in Japanese means “to return”, frogs can be linked with things/or people returning to their place of origin. The snake holds deep meaning in Japanese culture and folklore. It is seen as a symbol for protection, transformation and rebirth. In certain Shinto beliefs, they are seen as messengers and incarnations of deities, often worshipped in temples and believed to bring blessing and ward off evil. As you can see in the pictures, there is a small crack and hole in and around the bottom of the jar/humidor. JUST SAYIN, THIS CONTAINER WOULD WORK WELL FOR ANY OF YOUR VARIOUS STASHES!!




