Old West & Native American Auction
Lot 1514:
Description
This is a wonderful piece of folk art, a deep relief wood carving featuring the bust of a bearded man, clearly meant to evoke a trapper or frontiersman figure. The carving is executed on a roughly half-cylindrical log section, likely a piece of walnut or dark oak judging by the tight grain and rich, deep brown color, which gives it significant weight and presence. The subject, often referred to as a “wood spirit” or “tree spirit” carving, wears a fur-rimmed cap with a central medallion or compass rose symbol and a brim. A long feather hangs to the left side of his face. His thick, cascading beard is meticulously carved, with a highly detailed, trade bead necklace beneath his chin. On the reverse, the initials “RE” are visibly carved into the wood near the bottom, which, based on the subject matter, may point to the folk artist Trapper John Reichling. The piece is in very good overall condition, displaying a rich, aged patina. There is a prominent natural crack (checking) that runs across the bottom end-grain of the wood, which is inherent to the material and does not appear to compromise the integrity of the carving itself. Minor age-related wear and surface dust are present. H 24″, W 10″, D 5″.
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