Walter Bosse Tortoise Toothpick/Candle Holder

A beautifully sculpted toothpick or candle holder in the rare form of a tortoise, designed by Walter Bosse and made in the 1950's by Herta Baller, Vienna, Austria.

This multifunctional toothpick holder is tactile and heavy in the hand. The domed shell is polished gold whilst other areas are left patinated, creating an eye-catching decorative object, plus a useful guest at any dinner party. 

Some decorative features, such as the eyes & shell's pattern have been carefully handworked into the metal, post-casting, and indicate the high quality of this item. The more laborious manufacturing process for this tortoise, compared with other Bosse designs, is likely the reason for its rarity. 

Bosse's skill as a designer is observable in this nuanced design; the tortoise's character, for example, is achieved with the simple upwards tilt of the head.

Walter Bosse trained as a ceramicist, but experimented with metal casting from the late 1940's. His designs in metal were first produced by Herta Baller's workshop in the very early 1950's, and pieces from this period are particularly sought-after for their quality of design and manufacture.