Very Old Carved Monk (?) Holding Ball (World?) in Big Hands! parquetry tiles lushly executed in a super

lushly executed in a super elegant and interesting palette

1862—the second year of the Civil War—convened 16 people at his Dorchester home to unite themselves into what they called an “unsectarian Church of Jesus Christ”

or just enjoyed as a gorgeous sculptural object

and how useful for so many purposes

and the stick is 13 inches long

Very Old Carved Monk (?) Holding Ball (World?) in Big Hands! parquetry tiles lushly executed in a superThe seller I purchased this carving from thought the figure was a (bald) old woman, but I might think it's a robed monk (?), and that perhaps the large ball in his large hands is a metaphor for the world? Really I have no idea! I do know for sure that it is very old, and quite evocative I think, with this wonderfully expressive, curious round face and these great big hands out front. I think perhaps it was once painted, with the wood now showing