Antique Ernst Bohne Sohne Bisque Porcelain Figural Vanity Dish Mirror Boy Cat For Sale

This is a remarkably rare and highly collectible antique German bisque porcelain figural vanity trinket dish by Ernst Bohne Söhne. Dating to the late 19th or early 20th century, this piece is a fantastic interactive example of the factory's famous "Crayfish" novelty series. It is 6 inches wide.The three-dimensional scene depicts a young boy in a straw hat kneeling alongside a kitten over a pond. The magic of the piece is the inset glass mirror at the bottom of the dish: it represents a clear puddle of water. When backlit or viewed closely, the mirror reveals a hidden intaglio/silhouette design of a crayfish (lobster) crawling near a pond plant. The clever design creates the illusion that the boy and the curious kitten are peering down at the creature's reflection! The left side features a hollowed rustic fence structure originally meant to function as a spill vase or match holder, balancing out the open pink-trimmed vanity basin meant for trinkets.The back of the porcelain base features the authentic impressed anchor mark used by Ernst Bohne Söhne (prior to their 1919 acquisition by Gebrüder Heubach). It also displays the crisp impressed mold/factory number "3217" alongside a circular "Depose" design copyright stamp.This piece is in beautiful antique condition with no structural breaks or repairs. There is minor age-appropriate wear to the cold-painted accents which only adds to its authentic charm. Please read under "condition" regarding the mirror. Please study the high-resolution photographs carefully as they form part of the condition description. The item will be meticulously double-boxed and insured for safe transit.