Wonderful, Unusual Old Carved Pine Partial Face geometric vase Dear lovely wife pray rise

Dear lovely wife pray rise and P-ss

Hard to beat these smiling faces I think

Great hand-painted details against the gray paint

Unused back

and were traditionally made with dyes derived from crushed fruits and insects

Wonderful, Unusual Old Carved Pine Partial Face geometric vase Dear lovely wife pray riseI love this carving very very much, which I would think was carved by a trained sculptor rather than a folk carver, though I can't say for certain. I can say it was wonderfully done, a good many years ago for sure, with perfect interplay between the grain of the wood, pine I believe, and form of the face, especially on nose and chin. Surreal and perfectly matter of fact at the same time, and for me super evocative. 4 1 4" t x 2 3 8" w x 2" d not