SOLD 1895 Gold Painted Carved Whimsy with Letters, Numbers and More, On Stilts! antique school notebook and passed them by the

and passed them by the first time I saw them

I can't believe this wonderful little clay armadillo is not signed

with all little bits and pieces firmly attached

I know that is Hudson River School and I am pretty certain 1830-1850 or so

but really I love it

SOLD 1895 Gold Painted Carved Whimsy with Letters, Numbers and More, On Stilts! antique school notebook and passed them by theEvery inch of this carved whimsy is covered with letters, stars, the year 1895, and more. I believe they all together likely tell a story about the person who carved it, the letters not just being monograms but also speaking to where they were born or lived or were educated, etc. The number 60 appears, too, perhaps indicating the age of the carver or, it is possible that whole thing commemorates the life of someone who has passed, as I believe was