CONTINENTAL CERAMIC NAVAL FIGURAL HEAD HUMIDORS, LOT OF FIVE, comprising one seaman with "NEW-YORK." impressed to hat headband and smoking a pipe, one Merchant petty officer wearing a Mariner's cap, one bearded example with "H.M.S. Nelson." to hat headband, one French seaman with a cigar in mouth and wearing a beret featuring an upside down anchor to front, and one young man wearing a knit cap. Marks to underside include impressed "BB", "JM", "BU", and various numerals. Bernard Bloch, Bohemia; Johann Maresch, Austria or Czechoslovakia; and others. Fourth quarter 19th/first quarter 20th century. 7 3/8" HOA.
Literature: Horowitz - Figural Humidors, Mostly Victorian, New York seaman p. 29, fig. 89 and Merchant petty officer p. 29, fig. 90

From the collection of Allen Gurst, Delray Beach, FL.

Knit cap example having possible paint touch-ups to front of cap, otherwise undamaged; Merchant petty officer mostly undamaged, except having a flake to base interior rim and some flaking paint to hat; "H.M.S. Nelson." example having a minor flake to headband and moderate glaze wear to end of nose; French seaman having moderate chip to underside of hat, hat band with probable restoration, and minor flake at hairline on base; "NEW-YORK" example having pipe glued at stem, headband with glued chip and flake, flake to end of collar, and some poor paint touch-ups to underside of hat.