Nice Old Relief Carved Folk Art Ship (formerly a bookend) tubular vase as the forms surrounding them

as the forms surrounding them sure suggest ship wheels to me

and quite a character he is with that long mane and mustache and chin-up profile--making me think a bit of a lion

Tiles measure 2" x 1" x 5/16"

Very humble

Clearly aged and worn

Nice Old Relief Carved Folk Art Ship (formerly a bookend) tubular vase as the forms surrounding themThis carving was once the face of a bookend, but the bottom of the brass bookend attachment had been covered in felt that had gotten pretty rough, so I extricated it and it stands now on its own. I spent a few long days over the holidays going through old boxes in the basement where i had stashed inventory years ago from a little space i had in a shop nearby when i was just starting out in this business this is one of just a couple things I felt