Black Forest Carved Gnome Matchstick Holder-striker c.1900

This superb small Black Forest Swiss hand carved lime wood novelty match holder is in the form of a standing gnome wearing a tall peaked hat and tunic with a long beard. This cheerful fellow is standing with one hand raised and the other holding his walking stick. Beside him, there is a gnarly tree stump which is hollowed to store matches with a place for striking them which is made from glued fine gravel. This rare and pleasing example is hand signed by the artist and dated 1916 on the underside in ink.