I love the bears, and I love the "Fruits of the Hunt" themed carvings even more. This is a wonderful 15" wall plaque with bird and basket. Would have been a spill holder, most likely. Spills are the long rolled up paper "sticks" used to light a fire in fireplace or wood stove. The smaller sized pockets similarly made would be for matches, and this one can certainly hold matches, instead. Size helps determine it's use. For that matter, you can certainly fill it with candy canes for the Holidays and stick mints the rest of the year if you want to. Beautifully hand crafted, entirely carved of wood, it shows a rifle and powder horn, game basket/pouch, the game hen and oak leaves in the fine carved scene. If you've followed us for a while you know I'm a big fan of the old hand carved "Black Forest" items that come to us from 19th century Switzerland, Germany, parts of France and Italy, where they pleased the Grand Tour tourists and still please us all today. These hand carved treasures range from whimsical small bears to large and elaborate mantel clocks, wall clocks, wall plaques showing the most awesome anatomical studies of stag, fowl, "fruits of the hunt". I've got more to list so look through the vast collection. I've just used quite a few piece in our own 2nd home decoration , Rocky Mountains location, and love the look as well as the heritage since my own ancestors hail from that region and others. The pieces work well in Country Manor, French Country, Ski Lodge or Hunt Lodge and even in a den or office. Everything from a pocket watch case to huge plaques - from needle and thread holders to cigar caddy - these decorative objects survive today a testament to the artisan's craft of carving wood.
Very good to excellent condition throughout, with the single notable imperfection being a slight warp to the backboard that you can see in one or more of our photos. All measurements noted on our photos.
