White porcelain toothpick holder depicting a crouching sheep, sculpted in the round, with a series of holes arranged lengthwise along its back for toothpicks.
The quadrangular, architectural-style base is decorated with a thin gilt border that highlights the upper edge and the base, giving the piece a more refined character than the all-white examples of the same model.
For comparison, two toothpick holders of the same model, in white porcelain and unmarked, attributed to the Ginori factory in Doccia and probably dating from the late 18th century, were offered by Cambi Casa d’Aste in 2021. The close similarity of the model and the base also allows this piece to be attributed to the Doccia factory; the richer gilding seems to correspond to a slightly later production, probably from the first quarter of the 19th century.
Doccia (Florence); first quarter of the 19th century.