Toby the Black Dog, Marvin's 1984 Painted Relief Carving paper thin brass stencil I find antique bone Spillikins/Spellicans

I find antique bone Spillikins/Spellicans to be pretty extraordinary things

while cardinals would wear red

NOTE ON PHOTOS: Photos document each page

and under her simple cotton dress a smartly wrapped undergarment fastened with a safety pin

Beyond simply standing as a cool

Toby the Black Dog, Marvin's 1984 Painted Relief Carving paper thin brass stencil I find antique bone Spillikins/SpellicansHandwritten at the very center of the back of the wood panel from which this sweet black dog was carved is TOBY and what a dear and loyal friend Toby must have been. No words necessary to explain the appeal of this one, just a charmer of a painted folk art relief carving and completely winning companion. 11 3 4" t (not including hook) x 5 1 2" wide. Excellent vintage condition. Signed Marvin plus initialed MPF and dated 1984 on reverse.