Wonderful and Unusual Carved Soapstone Folk Art "1603" Church antique mourning picture In an ebonized wooden frame

In an ebonized wooden frame

19 1/8" t x 11 1/2" w x 7" d

I'm pretty sure this is a burner head from an old stove

with a great deal of character and attitude conveyed with immediacy

As evident a few wreaths have been lost

Wonderful and Unusual Carved Soapstone Folk Art "1603" Church antique mourning picture In an ebonized wooden frameI've seen a few miniature books carved of soapstone, and of course lots of Inuit sculpture, but I've never seen a house or a church or other sort of architectural structure as far as I know. This particular church feels close kin to the naive drawings of churches and houses and towns from long ago that I love so much, and with a compelling play of flatness and depth to it too, as if veering back and forth between drawing or sculpture. With a lot of