Carved, Black Forest Lion Head Key Holder

This is an unusual piece. I believe the lion's head is Black Forest carved in provenance and quite possibly was once the lid to an inkwell with the hole through which the stick is inserted used to hold a fountain or dip pen. The eyes are glass, and a hook was attached to the back of the head to hang this holder. When I purchased this, it had antique keys hanging from the hooks, so this is a possible use for this. Alternately, the hooks can hold just about anything that one can fit through the metal loops.

Interestingly enough, Black Forest carvings are often incorrectly attributed to German carvers, but these sought after pieces are more often than not from Switzerland. The art began in the town of Brienz, and according to https://www.antique-hq.com/the-history-of-black-forest-carvings-1673/, the town had become the driving force for this industry by the end of the 1800s.

I am estimating this carving as being from the late 1800s. I believe that perhaps even the stick and hooks were fashioned around this time period or in the early 1900s, and the hook was clearly attached at a later date as the hardware is of a newer style.

The stick measures 12 3/4". The back of the head measures approximately 4 1/8" x 3 1/8".

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Thank you for looking.