Sculptural Old Wire Calf Weaner vintage italian all those windows

all those windows

1 1/2" wide

though there are also the initials HL in pencil at lower left

with creamy white painted tin faces inlaid over ebony wood

the Alice Nanogak drawings in the book are the next best thing

Sculptural Old Wire Calf Weaner vintage italian all those windowsThis would have been used as a muzzle for weaning calves, and one can still rather feel the presence of a calf wearing it but what an evocative thing now in its absence. The hand done wire construction reads like a line drawing in space, while casting terrific shadows, and I especially like that it can be configured and displayed in a variety of ways, like a mask or a basket, with ears out or folded in, the latter creating the appearance of eyes. 12 5