Enigmatic Carved Folk Art Bust dog Figure himself and existing box

Figure himself and existing box are in very good shape

It measures 3 1/2" tall x 4 1/8" in diameter

or maybe even beans

and xmas tree beyond him

The patina on this one a beautiful thing

Enigmatic Carved Folk Art Bust dog Figure himself and existing boxEvery time I look at this carving, I see it differently sometimes thinking it is a woman represented and sometimes a man; sometimes thinking African American and sometimes thinking it feels a bit Germanic or even Dutch. My best guess is it is a portrait of a black woman, and that the carving is American, but I don't know for sure. In any case, I really like how expressionistic it feels in addition to its elusiveness, which is amplified by the darkness