I found this hand-formed clay skunk, dipped in a thick black, almost tar like (but not sticky) coat, at a show in Pennsylvania this past summer, and have just enjoyed having him sitting around for a while. Something about the shape of those individually sculpted and applied legs really does it for me, and then this bristle tail too. I have some notion that the tail had a function--like the bristles found at one end of old cork screws used for clearing the dust away from wax sealed wine bottles before uncorking--and the skunk's back, especially along the sides, shows what feels like a specific task related sort of wear. (Doesn't seem quite long enough for cleaning out a pipe bowl, but a black skunk does seem suited for dirty work! And it would be good now for sweeping away eraser shavings.) Anyway, quite a sweet thing, antique or nearly so I believe, with a great surface.

 3 3/8" l (including tail) x 1 1/2" w x 2 3'8" t. Nice wear, no losses, sturdy and sound.