Fantastic Antique Hand-carved, Gilded Folk Art Dove crayon with perhaps bit of distress

with perhaps bit of distress

barely visible

10 3/8" tall when lifted

With their sweet faces

Fantastic Antique Hand-carved, Gilded Folk Art Dove crayon with perhaps bit of distressI had at first taken this as an eagle, but I am now thinking it must be a dove, looking quite beatific with its wide eyes, smallish beak, and most angelic wings, a symbol of peace and also the Holy Spirit. The examples most similar in manner I have found are 19th century French and French Canadian; this one I found it in an off the beaten path spot in Maine, so perhaps the latter. Based on the holes in its flat back I would think either the topper on