Charmer of a Old Folk Art Box with Carved Cat on Top and Figures at Corners sculptural bottle really one of my favorite

really one of my favorite things I've found

I love his stoic-ness

And how beautiful is this mother--beaded leather satchel in one hand and her other arm wrapped protectively around the frame of the papoose--with her head turned toward something or someone outside of the frame and her baby looking

which makes the blocks look very much like a checkerboard when arranged that way

maybe forever preserved in the moment just before she actually cracks a smile

Charmer of a Old Folk Art Box with Carved Cat on Top and Figures at Corners sculptural bottle really one of my favoriteThe cat (lioness?) carved atop this box sold me on it at once, then I noticed the carved figural columns at the front corners icing on top! (or icing on the corners, as the case may be!) As folky as it gets, total delight. Looks like there was once an escutcheon plate over the keyhole at front, long gone, as is the key that might have locked it, but seems this lounging feline is poised to pounce on an intruder as needed! American, c. 1920s 40s I would