Greece A&B Co. Porcelain Toothpick Holder for Advertising (Thessaloniki)

A Small Advertising Tower on the Table
A Rare Porcelain Toothpick Holder That Conveys the Streets of Greece to the Present Day

Product Description:
This is an antique porcelain toothpick holder featuring an advertisement for "A&B," a trading company from Thessaloniki, Greece. On the sides, it is inscribed with "ΥΑΛΙΚΑ, ΠΟΡΣΕΛΑΝΑΙ" (Glassware, Porcelain) in Greek, and "Venetian porcelains, Lamps" in English. It is believed to have been produced as a promotional item for an import general merchandise dealer or ceramics dealer of the time. It has a unique structure with openings at both ends and was likely used to store wooden picks or cocktail sticks on the table.

In Europe, toothpicks were widely used not only for cleaning teeth, as in Japan, but also as picks for eating finger foods such as olives, cheese, and ham. Therefore, such holders were likely practical items used in bars, cafes, and restaurants. Porcelain tableware with advertisements is popular as a collector's item, conveying the commercial culture and lifestyle of the time. (R080240)

Specifications:
・Product Type: Advertising Toothpick Holder / Pick Holder
・Country of Origin: Greece
・Estimated Period: Circa 1920s-1950s
・Material: Porcelain
・Color: White × Green Transfer
・Size: Length: Approx. 10cm
　　　　　Width: Approx. 4cm
　　　　　Height: Approx. 4.5cm
・Condition:
　　　　Minor scratches due to age
　　　　No major chips or cracks
　　　　Transfer logo is relatively clear

Recommended Uses:
・Antique雑貨collection
・Bar/cafe display　
・Collection of European advertising novelties
・Shop fixtures
・Practical use as a toothpick/cocktail pick holder
・Photography prop/interior accent

Highlights:
An advertising item that evokes the commercial history of Thessaloniki, Greece
 Elegant porcelain construction despite being a utilitarian item
 A popular genre among novelty and advertising collectors
 Storytelling potential, possibly used in bars and cafes
 Palm-sized, easy to display
 A rare antique, with few identical items appearing on the market

Special Notes:
The "toothpick" imagined by Japanese people and the "Toothpick" historically used in Europe have quite different uses. From the late 19th to the 20th century, they were used as picks for finger foods, and wooden picks for skewering olives, cheese, ham, sausages, and pickles became popular. They were especially common in bars, cafes, bistros, and taverns. Even today, a similar usage remains in Spain's "pintxos" culture.

In the early 20th century, they began to be used as cocktail picks for martinis, Gibsons, and cocktails with olives. Hotels and bars also used glass, silver, and celluloid versions. In European households from the late 19th to early 20th centuries, Toothpick Holders were placed on the dining table alongside salt shakers, pepper shakers, and mustard pots.

※Based on AI research.