Fabulous Carved and Painted Wooden Sculpture of Seal or Sea Lion Balancing Ball vintage picnic basket 7 7/8" widest diameter

7 7/8" widest diameter

which tells the story of its making

There is slight slumping due to construction

best known for his viking figures

which included a fantastic collection of mid-century and contemporary ceramics from Japan

Fabulous Carved and Painted Wooden Sculpture of Seal or Sea Lion Balancing Ball vintage picnic basket 7 7/8" widest diameterI found this painted wood sculpture of a seal or sea lion balancing a ball at the estate sale of an artist, architect and MIT librarian and fell in love with it at once. I know nothing of its origins, and it is unsigned, but I think it is absolutely fantastic! Carved from what looks to be one piece of wood, its body is painted a deep teal green animated with thousands of tiny dots in yellow, pink, purple, white and a lighter green. And then that face!