Antique Architectural Ornament Mold: Bat-like Curve! lacquer box with scholars Based on the context in

Based on the context in which I found it

and I am totally fascinated by it

I'm a huge fan of Northwest Coast native baskets

date to the 1880s or so

which appears to read Parker and Wood on front and perhaps a note about location on the back

Antique Architectural Ornament Mold: Bat-like Curve! lacquer box with scholars Based on the context inI see a lot of old wooden industrial molds but only occasionally do I across across ones like this, filled with a pitch wood resin mold material, and used for casting ornaments for architecture, molding and picture frames. This is the smallest of several I'm listing, which photographs don't quite do justice (I've shot it a couple of different light situations to try to give a sense) the mold itself has a really visceral presence, feeling like a cross