Featured An unusual porcelain pen holder for discussion please

This unusual pen holder has been passed down to me by Italian great grandmother , I don't know much about ceramics and porcelain and so any help would be great , there is a mark on the bottom JD , I would like to know its origin and age and maybe a rough value ,
hope you can help
mat

 

German, I suspect. Or Austrian. Let me think about JD. Late 19th.

 

Oh that is cool.
I love it.
If you still can, go back and click Edit, Full Image. That will allow people with phones to see your pictures.

 

That's interesting ,I allways suspected it was Italian, it was in Italy for many years before it came to me, its quite heavy for its size , thanks for your reply

 

Thanks for the tip , glad you like it

 

My first reaction was the same as Owned's. German.
However, now that I can see the initials, possibly English.
Not Italian.

 

Maybe Auguste.

 

Upper left, before PAPA - El juin?

 

I believe it does say auguste

 

Juin is French for June. Does not translate from Italian.

 

Yes, the date 21 Juin, so the letter is French, but the piece itself is still a mystery.

 

Hm. But Auguste is not French for August. It is, however, a name. So, was Auguste writing to Papa on the 21st of June 1845. Perhaps as the baby bear.

It might still be German or Austrian even with that French. Not British.

Although, Switzerland has bear emblems and speaks French.....

 

I'm just wondering if this has some historical significance.

 

I keep seeing jan instead of juin. Janvier is French for january. If the date is significant....

Edit: is she wearing a crocus wreath? That would make it january.

 

Welcome to the forum matthew2!!!

I can be of absolutely no help, but it is absolutely adorable & even with no marks I would have snagged it in a skinny minute!!!

 

Bavaria abolished emigration taxes on that date.



I can't find the specific date, but appears there was religious conflict going on

 

Please, don't get anyone started on the Sonderbund. That almost caused another religious war on the forum a couple of weeks ago.