Featured Grotesque Stoneware Head Inkwell?

I bought this small piece in a mixed lot at auction today.

It’s stoneware and I think dates to c1820-30

It looks like a spoon warmer but is too small so I’m opting for pen holder.

i think it’s a satire on a political figure. Possibly Sir Robert Peel.

Any suggestions? Only found one other like it. That was sold as a spoon warmer.

 

How small is small John ?

How wide is opening

 

Adorable cutie w that hooked nose!
The bottom looks heavy, is it? It could well be a pen wipe.
Yes and now I want to know how small is small too!

 

I think this shows the size quite well.

 

It's a great piece

Given the shape of the mouth I would think spoon warmer too

 

I think that quite often these heads are ink pots though the mouth on yours would be a bit challenging. I think some are thought to be Sir Robert Walpole.

These are from Hildyard's Browne Muggs and I see they don't have a hole in their foreheads like some others do.



https://artmuseum.mtholyoke.edu/object/inkwell-depicting-sir-robert-walpole

 

Thank you for this.

 

I think someone had one on the board before but I can't find it.

 

Or might be a stamp moistener?
https://www.seawaychina.com/product/royal-doulton-stoneware-lloyd-george-stamp-moistener/

 

Good thought but I think it predates stamps.

 

Or at least stamps with glue on the back. The early ones didn't.