I have a picture carved entirely on wood & signed by the Artist Chestee Harrington Minvielle, circa 1900. I can not read the date next to his signature..it also has on the back of the piece and again on the frame..349/18..I do not know the type of wood used,.. however it appears the frame is original to the piece based on how the wood (piece/artwork) was nailed onto the frame.. it has lovely muted colors and several different carving techniques.. the picture is of a black chimney sweep man, standing on a tile floor,..in front of a building or house that he may be visiting to clean the fireplace..he is wearing a top hat. shirt with a vest, and what could be jeans.the shutters to the right of the man are also carved to look like real shutters the entire peice does have various heights or texture based on what was being carved...
the frame was in good condition until it fell onto the floor and part of one corner was cracked..the linen type fabric on the frame is discolored and looks like a water mark on the linen part of frame but the actual wood piece is in excellent condition .
