Novelty tobacco jars shaped as animal or character heads had a real following in late 19th century Central European pottery, part of a broader trend for functional objects that doubled as conversation pieces on a smoking table. This one takes the form of a dog's head, worked in brown glazed terracotta with enough sculptural detail in the ears and muzzle to read as a specific breed rather than a generic canine shape.
Bernard Bloch ran a Bohemian pottery firm known for exactly this kind of figural output alongside more conventional tableware, catering to a market that wanted its everyday objects to have a bit of personality rather than staying purely functional. As a humidor, the lidded head form would have kept tobacco reasonably fresh while sitting out as a visible piece rather than something tucked away in a drawer.
Condition notes
Very good antique condition. Light scuffing and scratches to base.
