Unusual and Marvelous Antique Carved Butter Pat with Pointing Hand and Snake sculpted armadillo I believe this basket dates

I believe this basket dates to the late 19th century and was made in New England—and it is a beauty of its type

Then he draws himself 50 years older

He or she definitely has eyes on something though

but no warping to the board or other issues

and a little bit Southwestern

Unusual and Marvelous Antique Carved Butter Pat with Pointing Hand and Snake sculpted armadillo I believe this basket datesI splurged on this one because I think it is so lovely, and unusual, and while I have never paid a lot of attention to carved butter molds and pats, which I believe this is, it makes a very strong argument for paying more attention, though I have most definitely not seen another like this. The carved hand on one side with finger pointing upward makes me believe it dates to the 1880s or so, as it is right about then that one sees grave markers carved