Is it a lion? Is it a forest monster? Entirely hand carved in deep bas relief, the figure carved on this plaque extends more than 2" into space, though the backing plaque is just 1/2" in depth. A fragment salvaged from panels of a library, perhaps, or an old piece of carved furniture, I bought it along with a few others, mostly in the Neo-Renaissance to Neoclassical aesthetic, and from the same salvage project in France. My guesstimate would put them mid-1800s. Fabulous now to mount on a cabinet door, or to just hang as wall art, or even display upright on book shelves or a countertop backsplash. Full measurements noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent condition, I find no chip and just one age line up there to the top, tight and fine and extending about 1 1/2" from the top just left of center. I've put "x" to help you find it, as it all but disappears but we want to be sure you see it. The patina of the old wood is quite beautiful. Could do with a wax, but no chips, no damage to outer perimeter. Frame or not, either way it's fun and a beautiful old piece of very heavy old forest growth hardwood.
