Wonderful Old Walking Stick With Carved Face and Great Patina, Presumed African American folk art puzzle cube but no splits or cracks

but no splits or cracks and still looks terrific

No hanger on reverse but backside is flat and a a velcro tab with hanging loop

serving as the perfect life raft (and wonderfully painted with waves on its lower half) seems to be grimacing all the while

16 5/8" x 14 7/8"

And yet this woman has devoted herself to them

Wonderful Old Walking Stick With Carved Face and Great Patina, Presumed African American folk art puzzle cube but no splits or cracksFound this week at the estate of an artist and collector in my neck of the woods, and I'm very tempted to keep it for myself what a face, and what a patina, and what a pleasure to wrap one's hand around the top, plus I'm not getting any younger! I presume African American in origin, and 19th century I presume. Approx 32 3 4" long x 1 3 8" w x 1 7 8" d. Wood smooth and darkened from use, and becoming considerably darker toward the bottom of the stick.