Hugely Empathetic Antique Beeswax Creature (Boar?) for Waxing Thread ready made visible behind our man

visible behind our man

With brass nails around the perimeter of the toe plate and all over the heel too

It appears to me that they were carved and then augmented with some sort of composition material

Nice old dry wood patina

This sifting or winnowing basket

Hugely Empathetic Antique Beeswax Creature (Boar?) for Waxing Thread ready made visible behind our manThis guy! The dealer I purchased him from described him as a boar, though perhaps her's a hedgehog with matted bristles, or who knows? but what a homely charmer! I believe he would have been used for waxing thread in sewing (strengthening the thread and making it easier to use) and clearly he's an old one, with the wax of his face having aged to nearly black. I'd keep him out of the hot sun, but otherwise he should endure for another lifetime. 2 7 8"