Preliminary identification
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Overview
This is a rustic, hand-carved wood slab plaque featuring a relief-carved wolf walking beneath an overhanging oak tree. The artist utilized a combination of relief carving, pyrography (wood burning) for texture, and subtle polychrome paint washes to bring the natural scene to life on a live-edge log slice.
Story
Created in 2014, this plaque captures the enduring spirit of North American wilderness art. The artist used the natural grain of a live-edge wood slice to frame a quiet, powerful moment of a wolf on the hunt.
Maker / Origin
Signed with the initials 'KS' and dated '14' at the bottom, this piece is the work of a skilled regional artisan or hobbyist carver. In the world of rustic folk art, such makers often work out of home workshops, selling their pieces at local craft fairs, hunting lodges, or specialized galleries in forested regions.
Condition & Value
The plaque appears to be in very good condition with the live-edge bark intact, which is highly desirable as bark on these slices easily chips or peels over time. The colors remain vibrant without significant fading, and the wood shows no signs of major splitting or cracking.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.