Antique Carved Burl Wood Bird, Presumed Native American Woodlands, Ex. Axtell Collection red clay I of course fell in

I of course fell in love with the birds and the deer and the fish

11 1/2" tall x 3" wide x 1 1/4" deep

which feels like pure sculpture to me

and went back to my source to buy one more as I think they're so beautiful

Antique Carved Burl Wood Bird, Presumed Native American Woodlands, Ex. Axtell Collection red clay I of course fell inA bit of a mystery, this bird, but such a beautiful thing, which came from the collection of "Smitty" Axtell, who was a great lover of carved treen objects. Carved of burl wood I believe, it feels to me Native American, bearing a strong resemblance to birds carved on effigy pipes and ladles, but I don't know for certain, and the reason for the holes carved down the back and up the belly is unknown, though it would seem likely it functioned as a tool