Darling Antique Black Forest Inkwell in the Form of a Cat Stuck in a Boot

This inkwell is a lovely example of Black Forest Carving and would date I imagine to the turn of the last century circa 1900. It is finely carved with so many charming details such as the hole in the toe of the shoe, the nails and the crack in the sole of the shoe and the two laces hanging down from his paws, although it has to be said the star of the show is the dear cat with that slightly embarrassed look cats have when they have just been a touch clumsy or got themselves stuck like in this case. The cat's expression is emphasised by those large glass eyes which I believe to be original looking imploringly up at you to get him out of the situation. The colour of the wood is light almost the colour of honey and is most likely either Linden or Walnut. To access the inkwell you have to lift the top of the shoe with the cat's head and there in the well is a white ceramic inkwell, which I am pretty certain is the original one as it fits so perfectly.