First, pardon the slight shine - we cleaned and lightly waxed the wood and should have waited another couple days to send to photographer. The wood treatment will fully absorb, protect the wood, and there is not any change to the old finish which is typical Black Forest wood. That said, this is a very large carving, hunting hound and the hare or rabbit he's retrieved. A carving like this would have been a flanking sculpture/carving along with a very large clock which would feature a hunter and hunt scene. It is not a functional piece (not an epergne stand nor smoker's stand), but is an Animalier sculpture of excellent quality, c.1880-1915. Full measurements noted on photos.
Very good to excellent condition throughout, I don't find chips nor hairlines, no cracks to note as flaws, though there is a natural hairline on the back bottom base, shrinkage of the old wood. As you can see from the bottom of base, the entire sculpture, carving, is from a solid chunk of wood, the hole on bottom is a mounting hole to hold it on the worktable. Beautiful lifelike dog and hare, both. One tiny chip to the backside, bark on that open trunk. I do not see a signature, though it's certainly of fine quality.
