Featured Carved wooden box with hounds, folk art?

Hello! Another auction win recently. This box is 7"L x 5"W x 1.2"H, the hinges say "Made in England". Perhaps it is a box for pencils or paint? I'm wondering if it is a handmade folk art piece or done by a professional? The sig is interesting, maybe the XLI is 41 for 1941? I found a similar hound image in copper, maybe the design has been copied from a popular art work? Any info appreciated, thank you!

 

I assume this is the other piece you were referring to.

Debora

 

Yes, that's the one!

 

You owe me one.

Debora

 

Ahh amazing! And it says 1941!! Thank you.

 

I'd think your box was done by a talented amateur carver. From his monogram, likely been at it a while. As for purpose, my guess would be a little writing box with room for business cards, stamps and fountain pen. Just a guess.

Debora

 

Yes, I particularly like the monogram! Since you cracked the case I searched the Saturday Evening Post artwork and found an interesting titbit:
Greyhounds
Paul Bransom
March 29, 1941

In the 1930s, dog racing was illegal, and considered by many to be unsavory because of its affiliation with mobsters. When Bransom painted this cover in 1941, only four states had legalized greyhound racing: Florida, Oregon, Massachusetts, and Arizona.

 

Greyhounds were a popular design motif in the Art Deco era, of which 1941 would be considered -- no pun intended -- the tail end.

Debora

 

Well done!

 

It's a charming box, I've a soft spot for Greyhounds, dating back to 1971, when we moved near a Florida dog track - it was 50 more years before racing finally ended here.

It was an incredibly cruel sport - I started to relate some experiences, but it was immediately disturbing to me, and didn't want to foist the horror on anyone else. While still legal in seven states, the only active tracks are in West Virginia - unfortunately, like many other states, Florida still allows betting on those WV races.

They're lovely sweet dogs, we had two local Greyhound rescues, so I knew many from the neighborhood and dog parks, all described as couch potatoes at home, happy to be retired...

~Cheryl

 

Thank you for sharing!

 

Since XLI is 41 I agree it was probably the date of carving. Not sure about the rest of the monogram which looks like the symbol Prince used when he was formerly the artist known as Prince!

 

Haha yes it is quite a flamboyant monogram