Finely Carved Antique Double Ball in Cage Architectural Standing Whimsy carved vessel Tremendously lovable

Tremendously lovable

A little digging reveals that "Fireside Studios"--the maker of these "practice boards--was a division of Fireside Industries

perhaps with some little sheep grazing nearby

as it appears there are a few stray brown threads near the top

but I think it is pretty fantastic

Finely Carved Antique Double Ball in Cage Architectural Standing Whimsy carved vessel Tremendously lovableVery rare that I come across a whimsy as fancy and skillfully carved as this one, which I know was found in Minneapolis, but which I might guess, based on the manner of hard wood and manner of carving is British, though I don't know for sure. Whatever the case, 19th century I do believe, and quite finely done, all from one piece of wood, with two perfectly round balls in thin walled cages, the top one stepping back a bit from the one below, and two