Sculptural Old Wire Calf Weaner vintage italian with creamy white painted tin

with creamy white painted tin faces inlaid over ebony wood

making our subject a rather transcendental woman for the ages

with some age on it I believe

Another hex type star from a portfolio of antique drawings by Pennsylvania folk/outsider artist Wayne B

1 1/2" wide

Sculptural Old Wire Calf Weaner vintage italian with creamy white painted tinThis would have been used as a muzzle for weaning calves, and one can still rather feel the presence of a calf wearing it but what an evocative thing now in its absence. The hand done wire construction reads like a line drawing in space, while casting terrific shadows, and I especially like that it can be configured and displayed in a variety of ways, like a mask or a basket, with ears out or folded in, the latter creating the appearance of eyes. 12 5