Old Wooden Cardinal Cutout with Bright Yellow Painted Beak canisters Perhaps a secret snuff compartment

Perhaps a secret snuff compartment

Late 18th or very early 19th century I believe

and seeing the design and illustrations in this old copy reminds me of both their strangeness and their magic

Rooted in the craft of Chinese porcelain-making

it took me a minute to find which piece on each had a little give to allow the taking apart process to begin--and the way the pieces fit together is pretty cool as it reveals itself

Old Wooden Cardinal Cutout with Bright Yellow Painted Beak canisters Perhaps a secret snuff compartmentI had a great old wooden cutout bluebird in the shop a few months ago, found in Maine just as this Cardinal was, and I have a bit of a hunch they were made by the same person. The polychrome color on this one has similarly faded with age, especially the red, but I think it is all to the good in making for the perfect contrast with the still super bright and thick yellow paint on the beak. I do think this one would do a good job attracting other birds