Antique Carved and Painted (Polychrome) Praying Holy Woman hand carved whimsy and with a nice warm

and with a nice warm patina (I have not touched it)

but I find it exactly right--conveying the quiet beauty and also isolation of winter without a brushstroke more than is needed

coming in about a quarter of an inch on the inside

The toad measures 2 1/2" long x 1 7/8" wide x 1 1/4" tall and is in very good vintage condition

What I especially like is the content of the phrases themselves: "farmers usualy [sic] strive to get a living honestly"

Antique Carved and Painted (Polychrome) Praying Holy Woman hand carved whimsy and with a nice warmI feel holier just looking at this carving, an abbess I want to call her, hands clasped in prayer, and who feels about as devout as they come, and supremely in her devotion. I purchased her from am estate in Chelmsford, Mass, which included a large collection of antique santos carvings, feeling that she would make an exceptionally fine guardian spirit. I also love that she retains traces of true lapis lazuli paint in addition to a little gold still