Fabulous Carved and Painted Wooden Sculpture of Seal or Sea Lion Balancing Ball vintage picnic basket There is slight slumping due

There is slight slumping due to construction

best known for his viking figures

the basket's exterior is a variegated honey color with faded red medallion and red and blue striping

1929)  a Lowell-based painter and illustrator

Signed with what looks like "Jani" and stamped "Brandon Stoneware" - a pottery studio in Brandon

Fabulous Carved and Painted Wooden Sculpture of Seal or Sea Lion Balancing Ball vintage picnic basket There is slight slumping dueI 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!