Beautiful, Satisfying Mid 19th C. Solid Iron Blacksmith's/Jeweler's Anvil lush landscaoe lotus and flowers

lotus and flowers

which to my eye is all to the good

and as this is quite an old sign

(The carving of her hair

(I don't think it would take much effort to strip the interior down to its bones

Beautiful, Satisfying Mid 19th C. Solid Iron Blacksmith's/Jeweler's Anvil lush landscaoe lotus and flowersMy knowledge of tools is limited, but I believe this would have been used by a blacksmith doing fine work, or a jeweler, and I guess the pair of wonderfully snake like recessed forms at the top represent hooks or perhaps clasps that would have been forged on it. Lettering was pressed into the sides in the form of two "X"'s a bit hard to read, but I can make out something along the lines of Dasteel. I find it just a very satisfying and sculptural