A Moor, | Christie's

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'Gapers' or 'Yawners' first appeared on the streets of Holland and Flanders around the sixteenth-century to advertise druggists and pharmacists. The oldest surviving Gapers are from the eighteenth century; all are unique but have common characteristics. They all have big heads, mouth agape and are exotic and fascinating in their appearance, depicting Moors, court jesters, sickly souls and later men in uniform. They are largely unsigned, made for the most part by local carpenters, although the more sophiscated examples were carved by professional woodcarvers. There has been much conjecture as to why such a mocking and unfriendly (to the point of grotesque) signpost might be used. The exotic appearance of the Gapers may be reflective of the origin of the ingredients used in remedies, or reminiscent of the Moorish-looking, strapping assistants that druggists and pharmacists employed to attract people to their produce. Indeed, the exotic beacon might reflect the sorcery and magic surrounding the trade throughout the eighteenth and early nineteenth century. The grotesque sticking out of the tongue and pained expression may relate to the revolting taste of some medicine. It may be symbolic of the tongue's use in diagnosis and taking medicine. It has also been suggested that such an unfriendly face might be precursor to the unfriendly service expected from a pharmicist or druggist deep in concentration concocting his remedies. Today these enigmatic sign posts are rarely seen on Dutch streets. Their decline began around the 1920s when a tax of 50 guilders was levied on each container displaced on the shop front. Many were consequently taken down and dumped.

A Moor,

細節

A Moor,
19th Century, carved from wood, with a gessop surface decorated in brown, blue, yellow, red and black -- 59cm. (23¼in.) high (cracked at the back from the base to the head)

注意事項

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium This lot is subject to Collection and Storage charges