Tobacco Jar Antique Majolica Pottery Humidor. This is a rare antique Austrian Majolica Tobacco Jar known as the SKULL WITH CAP Tobacco Jar. This two-piece tobacco jar, or humidor, is modeled in deep relief. And glaze are very well done. The subject is a well-done, a. Esting on a book. The Skull’s colorful brimmed cap with a beanie on top forms the lid top of the tobacco jar. The underside of the lid has a recessed area to put a damp sponge and is nicely fitted on the matching base. The lower half is the skull head propped up on a colorful book. On the top lid (cap), the inside is unglazed, and underside is glazed; the bottom rim edge is unglazed. On the base, the top rim is glazed, the inside is glazed, the underside base is glazed, and the underside rim foot is unglazed. The tobacco jar is decorated with stylized accents, and colors including a background decorated with pink, blue, and brown. The underside has the impressed marks 7069, and 49. This is European Art Pottery majolica art pottery, probably from Austria or Czechoslovakia. This is fine antique majolica; earthenware that has an opaque tin glaze. This style includes production techniques whereby enamel glazes and decorations are hand applied and worked in stages upon a pottery form and fired several times in a kiln. The estimated date is early 20th Century, circa 1920. Is in very good condition; noting there are five faint line cracks, on the base exterior from the rim down, each is one inch and under; there is a minute chip on the inside back rim of the bottom, and a bit of various rust staining on the inside of the bottom (see photos). Otherwise, condition status includes minimal normal wear and rubbing, glaze losses, firing flaws, crazing and fretting. Overall, this work is sound, having no chips, cracks, or major defects, and having had no apparent repairs or restorations. It is noted that old majolica is not inherently “perfect” – pieces were still mold formed in this era and as such have marks like little dents in the pottery which are glazed over. This is not damage- this is part of the history of old pottery and how it was made. Please see all photos which are a part of this description. Please note photos have been taken in indirect sunlight; therefore, reflections and lighting spots may appear, but do not necessarily indicate defects. Tall X 3.5 In. Wide X 5.0 In. Please check out my other listings with Fleurman. Please bookmark this work; Listing Category and List Price are subject to change. If you see something wrong in a listing, please send me a message and let me know and I will address the situation accordingly. (Latin: “remember that you must die”) is the medieval Latin theory and practice of reflection on mortality, especially as a means of considering the vanity of earthly life and the transient nature of all earthly goods and pursuits. It is related to the ars moriendi (“The Art of Dying”) and related literature. Memento mori has been an important part of ascetic disciplines as a means of perfecting the character, by cultivating detachment and other virtues, and turning the attention towards the immortality of the soul and the afterlife.