Lovely Antique Double Sided Decorative Motif Carving "Sampler" Signed Upton the archer looking almost as if coated

looking almost as if coated in tar

once I began reading through the 20 or so pages that are filled

I'm always rather amazed by the colors of mallards to begin with

with carefully painted red brick chimney

Lovely Antique Double Sided Decorative Motif Carving "Sampler" Signed Upton the archer looking almost as if coatedNeedlepoint samplers, darning samplers, penmanship samplers and carving samplers too! I presume this block of wood, with a variety of carved motifs on both sides, was made for practice, perhaps in advance of a specific project, though perhaps more just a showcase of skills. Better in hand and equally good on both sides I think, with a really nice warm dry patina to the wood. Signed (incised) UPTON along the top edge on one side. Early 20th century I