This is a whole boab nut (from the beautiful Australian Boab tree) which has been carved & decorated to appear as a quail-like bird. The seed inside still rattles.
It was carved by an Australian Indigenous artist, John Allies. It was purchased by the owner at an Indigenous-owned gallery in West Australia.
Nuts are carved with many different patterns, but this one is particularly delightful in that it also uses the form of the nut itself to assist in the depiction of the bird.
From the tip of the stalk to the tip of the beak measures about 14cm. And its diameter at the widest point is about 20cm.
It is a lovely piece of art that always brings a smile to the face.