Ships, Folk Art, and Whimsey in Bottles

This is a very folksy and interesting scene of the cross surrounded by religious symbols and carved birds. The cross is in a dark natural wood and the length of the upright and across the cross arm are deeply cut patterned grooves. The ends of the are carved to a point. Where the cross arm is joined to the upright is a carved heart on the front side and a long oblong shape on the back that comes to a point on each end. Both pieces are carved in a slightly lighter colored wood are pegged to the cross with a very small dowel or wooden nail. The cross is attached to a wooden base that is put in in 4 sections forming a loosely joined floor on the base of the bottle. There are several religious symbols pegged into the wooden base. On the front left is a pick axe with the pick carved in a slightly darker wood than is the handle and the axe is carved to a point on each end. On the right side is a larger pick axe made much the same way with one end coming to a point and the other end carved like a broad axe. In the center is a notch carved tapered post with a carved cross on the top. On the back left is a hammer made much like the pick axes on the front. On the right side is a shovel with a rounded handle. In the center to the left side is a ladder with 5 round rungs. The right side of the cross in the center is a wooden saw on the outside part of the base and a long spear on the inside. One of the most compelling feature of this piece are the six carved birds positioned around the bottle. The is a bird perched on the small cross atop the tapered column in the front center. Two birds are perched sideways and at different levels on the upright of the main cross, one on the front of the upright and the other one to the left side. Two birds are perched on the cross arm, one to each side. The sixth bird is on top of the cross high in the neck of the bottle. This bird in not readily noticed and becomes a nice surprise when viewing the bottle up close. Each bird is approximately 1 3/4" long and is carved in a light colored piece of wood. The tail tapers and there is a wooden beak and a large eye drawn on in pencil. The bottle is a uniquely shaped bottle with the name "DB" embossed on top front of the bottle. To each side of these letters are ridges of 4 curved glass lines in the bottle that extend to the back. On the backside of the bottle are the words "Federal Law Forbids Sale Or Re-Use Of This Bottle." Bottles made between 1933 and 1965 contained this wording. The sides of the bottle have seven sections that curve in and out. On the bottom front of the bottle are the words "The Sign of 'DB' Good Taste." The "DB" letters are in the center and embossed in larger letters. The bottle is sealed with a metal screw top but it is not believed to be the correct top although it is the right size.