Carved Otter by Richard Tompkins, Nova Scotia pottery tools and Vassar College Museum

and Vassar College Museum

10” tall

brown for the mustache

— dates to sometime between 1900-1920

at its center is the inscribed name--backwards--of "Rev

Carved Otter by Richard Tompkins, Nova Scotia pottery tools and Vassar College MuseumThis lovely otter is by Richard Thompkins (1930 1995), a renowned Nova Scotia based Canadian carver who became known in the 1960s for his sleek, highly finished carved animals, especially his otters like this one. I believe it is carved of Butternut, finished with linseed oil and lacquer. I love that it feels super mid century but also very much product of singular sensibility. Signed Richard N. S. on the underside of the belly. 7 1 2 long x 3 1 4