Antique Carved Burl Wood Bird, Presumed Native American Woodlands, Ex. Axtell Collection brass key both men wear crosses on

both men wear crosses on their labels

Great imagery

14" x 9" x 11/16" with two eye hooks along the top for hanging

but there is a "3" carved on the underside of his tail

perhaps newly betrothed (or just married

Antique Carved Burl Wood Bird, Presumed Native American Woodlands, Ex. Axtell Collection brass key both men wear crosses onA bit of a mystery, this bird, but such a beautiful thing, which came from the collection of "Smitty" Axtell, who was a great lover of carved treen objects. Carved of burl wood I believe, it feels to me Native American, bearing a strong resemblance to birds carved on effigy pipes and ladles, but I don't know for certain, and the reason for the holes carved down the back and up the belly is unknown, though it would seem likely it functioned as a tool