Old Hand-wrought Iron Folk Art Dog with Corkscrew Tail steel black the same artist--that one signed

the same artist--that one signed with the R of NRD elaborated to spell Rasmane

and very clearly readable

and especially those with loop handles like this one

and it could be even better with some stick pins stuck in it

the corners are jointed

Old Hand-wrought Iron Folk Art Dog with Corkscrew Tail steel black the same artist--that one signedI presume this wonderful creature was a whimsy of sorts made by a blacksmith. Perfectly unfussy and really rather elegant in a primitive way I think (makes me think a bit of Etruscan horses), with the ears, one flipped up, the other down, and the corkscrew tail lending a little humor. With terrific marked eyes and a slit for the mouth. It appear to me to have quite a bit of age, I'd guess earlyish 20th c? 8 3 8 x 2 3 4" t x 2 11 16" w and in very good