Ball in Cage on Chain, Old Folk Art Whimsy Carving signed mannequin including the reverse

including the reverse

book itself in good

and some white paint on the top side

and then this array of toy figures and animals arranged on the chair beside him

My pondering was on whether it is actually composed of two tightly interlocking pieces of wood or was just incised on the surface to give that illusion--but I've now learned that indeed this was a carpenter's trick

Ball in Cage on Chain, Old Folk Art Whimsy Carving signed mannequin including the reverseAnother week, another carved whimsy, because I love them in all of their variety, and you snap them up as soon as a find them. This one from a dealer in Pennsylvania who always brings a wonderful trove to Brimfield. Earlier 20th century I believe, with a really nice shape to the links, satisfying carve marks all over (I really like it when one can feel the long labor of whittling that ball into round) , and a nice warm dry patina. With graphite marks