Small Double Sided Relief Carved Panel with Canoeing Figure, House and Animals miners in many ways unlike that

in many ways unlike that of the more widespread practice of praying to saints who would then appeal to God on the subject's behalf

chunky and funky thing

and then someone beautifully carved/burned "CHESS" next to it

With a nice dry wood patina and in very good shape

Small Double Sided Relief Carved Panel with Canoeing Figure, House and Animals miners in many ways unlike thatI found this little carving at Brimfield in July and wanted to enjoy it for a bit before parting with it. I really don't know where it came from or why it is shaped the way it is at first I thought the lid of a carved box, but there is no sign there were ever hinges on it, just a small hole at the center of the bottom edge, which could have held a latch. (Maybe it was originally carved it as a box lid but its maker decided it was just right as a stand