A rare subject in the old 19th century traditional Swiss Black Forest carved "Fruits of the Hunt" wall plaques, this one is sea life, fish, eet, ray and just beautifully accomplished. Nice sized at 20" tall and 14 1/2" oval plaque (1/2" thick) the carving in deep bas relief extends almost 3" into space. Photos show it well and in fine detail. I sometimes see Asian carvings with sea life, but very rarely the Swiss Black Forest artisans take on this subject. Fruits of the Hunt theme isn't about killing animals - it's like a prayer of thanks for the bouty of Nature, for the evening meal and the sustenance of life it provides. These often hung in kitchens or dining rooms. Full measurements noted on photos.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, hardly a flaw to note. I have marked and enlarged a hairline on the eel body, and a chip to a fin nearby. They're marked with "x". Also, the oval wood plaque has an old hairline from shrinkage of wood, or perhaps the old seam in boards. After our photos were taken, the plaque has been professionally glued there and clamp-braced for drying time so that is now all but invisible and is very stable. An eye-bolt on backside is the hanging mechanism which came as original. On the bottom of the plaque there is a hole drilled which I'm certain would have been used to anchor the carving to the wall to keep it from being bumped off wall and broken. When you hang it, be sure to likewise anchor it. FABuous plaque!
